Minimally Invasive Prostate Surgery: Options & Benefits

Historically, one out of every two American men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer has undergone a radical prostatectomy that allows the surgeon to remove the prostate gland through a big incision below the navel. Today, minimally invasive techniques allow the surgeon to remove the prostate with smaller incisions.

• Prostate surgery has come a long way.

Types

• To remove your prostate in a laparoscopic procedure, your surgeon will make several small incisions to insert instruments through a small tube. Some surgeons use a robotic approach to guide their laparoscopic instruments with the da Vinci Surgical System.

Benefits

• If you have a laparoscopic prostate procedure, you have a better chance of avoiding blood transfusions or breathing problems in the postoperative period.

Significance

• Laparoscopic procedures are quicker and require less anesthesia than in traditional surgery, making them a better choice for men with cardiovascular or respiratory problems.

Contraindications

• Since minimally invasive procedures don't allow the surgeon to explore the abdomen, they aren't recommended for men whose cancer has spread beyond the prostate.

Warning

• While minimally invasive procedures shorten hospital stays, they don't reduce overall complications. If you have excessive bleeding, breathing problems, urinary issues, or sexual dysfunction after a procedure, notify your doctor.