Why Is There Increasing Concern At This Time Regarding Erectile Dysfunction Issues Following Radical Prostatectomy
The reality of the recovery process after radical prostatectomy today is that erectile function recovery lags behind functional recovery in other areas. Patients are understandably concerned about this issue and, following months of erectile dysfunction, become skeptical of reassurances that their potency will return.
What Happens After Laparoscopic Prostatectomy
After surgery, you will be hospitalized for approximately two to three days so that doctors can monitor your recovery process and ensure no complications occur after surgery.
Your diet will consist of fluids shortly after the procedure and after youre cleared by your doctor, you may begin to eat regularly again.
You will be encouraged to walk soon after your surgery. This helps prevent complications and helps the healing process by circulating blood in your body.
After you are discharged from Cleveland Clinic, it is normal to feel tired for several weeks after the procedure. It is important however to keep doing light exercise such as walking to continue the healing process.
Any heavy lifting should be avoided for at least three weeks after surgery to avoid injury.
The most important thing is to take it easy and to return to normal activities on a timeline that feels right for you.
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How Is The Treatment Done
Enlarged prostate has various treatment options. The type of treatment will depend on the condition of the enlarged prostate and the difficulties you are facing in urination or dong other physical activities. Drug therapy is one of the options available where certain medications are prescribed to the patients that might help in relieving the symptoms experienced by you.
Surgery is another option for BHP or enlarged prostate. It is mainly done for severe cases where surgery becomes mandatory.
Transurethral resection of prostate -It is one of the most common BHP surgery. It involves removal of the tissue growth around a urethra. It does the job of relieving the patient of their symptoms and requires very little recovery time.
Transurethral incision of prostate -This procedure involves making incisions or cuts on the prostate to relieve pressure on the urethra. It generally takes time for symptoms to subside and return to normalcy is much slower.
Other surgery treatment options include Transurethral microwave thermotherapy and Transurethral needle ablation . Both of these treatments require microwave or ultrasound energy to destroy the prostate tissue.
There are newer surgery options that are being researched and performed in clinical trials that range from water therapy to laser treatments. In laser therapy high energy frequency is used to destroy prostate tissue and generally requires general anesthesia. Mention should also be made about Rezum therapy and Urolift procedures.
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After Prostate Cancer Has Been Diagnosed Tests Are Done To Find Out If Cancer Cells Have Spread Within The Prostate Or To Other Parts Of The Body
The process used to find out if cancer has spread within theprostate or to other parts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage in order to plan treatment. The results of the tests used to diagnoseprostate cancer are often also used to stage the disease. In prostate cancer, staging tests may not be done unless the patient has symptoms or signs that the cancer has spread, such as bone pain, a high PSA level, or a high Gleason score.
The following tests and procedures also may be used in the staging process:
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Large Prostate With Few Symptoms
Patients with very enlarged prostates may have few symptoms or mild symptoms. Doctors verify that there are no problems with kidney or bladder function. If not, they know that the enlarged prostate is not harming the body. In this case, doctors may recommend just watching the prostate or doing non-surgical treatments. Options include changing certain eating and drinking habits and urinating less often. Patients can take medications that relax the prostate, such as tamsulosin, or shrink the prostate, such as finasteride or dutasteride. Patients also may try supplements like saw palmetto to help their symptoms.
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Treatments Options For High
The prostate is a walnut-sized organ that is part of the male reproductive system. It sits in front the bladder and above the rectum. The prostate is responsible for the production and supply of fluid that helps nourish sperm in the ejaculate. The urethra, where urine travels from the bladder to the penis, runs through the prostate.
As a result of family history, lifestyle, diet, and natural hormonal changes, the prostate begins to grow in size as men age, starting in their mid-30s. When the prostate becomes more enlarged over time, it might press against the urethra and block urine flow . This condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH.
Enlarged prostates differ in size. The size can be estimated on digital rectal exam or prostate imaging like an ultrasound. People with very enlarged prostates have several treatment options. However, size is not the only factor used to choose a treatment.
When doctors evaluate the prostate, symptoms are just as important as size. In addition, size and symptoms don’t always correspond. For example, one person might have a mildly enlarged prostate with noticeable symptoms, while another person could have a very large prostate with no symptoms.
All of this information is the basis of a personalized treatment plan. Here are the options for patients with very enlarged prostates, with or without symptoms.
Facts Every Man Should Know Before Prostate Cancer Surgery
Many men want to know what prostate cancer surgery is like, including what to expect before surgery and what to expect afterwards.
Here are my findings based upon more than 1,000 phone calls to men the day before surgery, almost 700 visits to men the day after surgery and hundreds of calls from men in the weeks following surgery.
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Laser Surgery For An Enlarged Prostate Is No More Effective Than Standard Surgery
Two procedures to treat men with enlarged prostates are both effective, new research has shown.
A benign enlarged prostate is not cancer and is not usually a serious threat to health. But it is common in men over 50 and some need surgery to treat troublesome urinary symptoms caused by the growing prostate. The most common procedure is transurethral resection of the prostate which is usually successful but can lead to complications such as bleeding in some men.
The UNBLOCS trial compared the effectiveness of TURP to a new laser procedure which might reduce a patients hospital stay and cause fewer side effects. The thulium laser, ThuVARP, vaporises excess prostate. Men who needed a prostate operation were asked to consent to either procedure without knowing which one they would receive.
One year later, men in both groups were satisfied with their surgery. They reported similar improvements in their urinary symptoms and quality of life. There was no difference between the two procedures in terms of hospital stay or complications. However, men in the TURP group achieved a faster urinary flow rate . TURP was also slightly more cost-effective and faster to perform than the laser procedure.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Prostate Surgery
The decision will also greatly depend on how the man feels about the potential benefits and harms of a procedure. Although surgery is very effective, it can lead to complications such as ejaculation problems. Surgery can very effectively reduce the problems associated with a benign enlarged prostate.
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Risks Of Prostate Surgery
The risks with any type of radical prostatectomy are much like those of any major surgery. Problems during or shortly after the operation can include:
- Reactions to anesthesia
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Damage to nearby organs
- Infections at the surgery site.
Rarely, part of the intestine might be injured during surgery, which could lead to infections in the abdomen and might require more surgery to fix. Injuries to the intestines are more common with laparoscopic and robotic surgeries than with the open approach.
If lymph nodes are removed, a collection of lymph fluid can form and may need to be drained.
In extremely rare cases, a man can die because of complications of this operation. Your risk depends, in part, on your overall health, your age, and the skill of your surgical team.
Getting Ready For Your Surgery
You and your care team will work together to get ready for your surgery.
Help us keep you safe during your surgery by telling us if any of the following statements apply to you, even if you arent sure.
- I take a blood thinner, such as:
- Aspirin
About drinking alcohol
The amount of alcohol you drink can affect you during and after your surgery. Its important to talk with your healthcare providers about how much alcohol you drink. This will help us plan your care.
- If you stop drinking alcohol suddenly, it can cause seizures, delirium, and death. If we know youre at risk for these complications, we can prescribe medications to help keep them from happening.
- If you drink alcohol regularly, you may be at risk for other complications during and after your surgery. These include bleeding, infections, heart problems, and a longer hospital stay.
Here are things you can do before your surgery to keep from having problems:
About smoking
If you smoke, you can have breathing problems when you have surgery. Stopping even for a few days before surgery can help. Your healthcare provider will refer you to our Tobacco Treatment Program if you smoke. You can also reach the program by calling .
About sleep apnea
Please tell us if you have sleep apnea or if you think you might have it. If you use a breathing device for sleep apnea, bring it with you the day of your surgery.
Ask about medications
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Is Surgery The Best Solution For An Enlarged Prostate
BPH, or enlarged prostate, is not a life-threatening disease but it is a life-altering condition.
Loss of sleep due to urges to use the restroom at night. Painful and embarrassing trips to the bathroom frequently during the day. The feeling that the bladder is not fully emptying.
All of these painful and annoying symptoms do not usually get better unless treated. Up until recently, surgery was considered the standard treatment for the maximum results.
Are There Differences Between Orp Lrp And Ralrp
According to a 2010 of different surgery types for prostate cancer, the outcomes for open radical prostatectomy , laparoscopic , and robotic-assisted prostatectomy are not significantly different.
But people who choose LRP and RALRP may experience:
- less blood loss
- shorter hospital stay
- faster recovery time
Also, people who choose RALRP report faster recovery in continence and decreased hospital stay, in comparison to LRP. But the overall outcomes still depend on the surgeons experience and skill.
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Using Pads Or A Sheath
Absorbent pads and pants can be worn inside your underwear, or may replace your underwear altogether. These will soak up any leaks.
Urinary sheaths can also help with dribbling. They look like condoms with a tube coming out of the end. The tube connects to a bag that you can strap to your leg under your clothing.
Enlarged Prostate Surgical Procedures
Here is a list of enlarged prostate surgery procedures:
- TUIP widens the urethra by making a few small cuts in the bladder neck, where the urethra joins the bladder, and in the prostate gland itself.
- TURP surgery is the procedure used for 90% of all prostate surgeries for BPHit is the standard operation.
With TURP, an instrument called a resectoscope is inserted through the penis to remove the excess tissue. It is less traumatic than open forms of surgery.
It has a high risk of retrograde ejaculation, which is when semen works its way back into the bladder instead of coming out the tip of the penis when you come.
Other risks: impotence, incontinence, blood loss, and urinary tract infection. This procedure is now available using lasers.
- Simple or Partial Prostatectomy is the removal of the inner portion of the prostate through an incision in the lower abdomen. This is an invasive surgery used for very large prostate glands to remove the enlarged part of the prostate.
This BPH surgery procedure is open surgery performed while the patient is under general anesthesia.
Read more about BPH and medical procedures here:
Read these industry-funded sites that explain all the different procedures in greater depth. Buyer beware as despite the claims to being superior, many of these private state of the art procedures have not been proven over time to be superior to the standard TURP:
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What Is Prostate Cancer Surgery
Prostate cancer is a cancer that develops in the prostate gland â a small gland placed between the penis and the bladder in men. Prostate is a part of the male reproductive system. It secretes prostate fluid â through the seminal vesicles â that forms a part of semen along with sperms and fluids from other glands.
The seminal vesicles are a pair of smaller glands present on the sides of the prostate. Prostate cancer may spread to the seminal vesicles too.
The surgery for prostate cancer involves removal of the prostate gland, seminal vesicles and a part of the urethra. This procedure is known as radical prostatectomy. The tissues around these glands may also be removed if cancer cells are observed on them. The following types of radical prostatectomy are available:
- Open surgery: A large incision is made to remove the prostate gland and the tissues that may have cancer cells.
- Minimally invasive surgery: The prostate and adjacent cancer cells are accessed with the help of a few small incisions. This surgery may be done manually or with robotic assistance.
Nonsurgical Treatments For Bph
A number of medications can be prescribed to relieve symptoms of BPH. However, these medications may cause sexual side effects, such as ejaculation problems and erectile dysfunction. For some men, this may not be a major issue, but for others, preserving their sexual function is a high priority.
Other nonsurgical therapies include transurethral microwave thermotherapy and water-induced thermotherapy. Both use heat to destroy prostate tissue and reduce or resolve urinary symptoms. For some men, mild cases of BPH may be treated with lifestyle changes, including avoiding or limiting fluids at night and special exercises that can help improve bladder control.
If medications and/or thermotherapies are unsuccessful, or if the patient is unable or unwilling to tolerate the side effects of medication, surgery may be recommended.
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What Is A Robotic Or Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy
Now routine procedures at Cleveland Clinic, laparoscopic or robotic prostatectomy are minimally invasive surgery procedures used to remove the prostate. Both forms of surgery are now routinely offered at the Cleveland Clinic to patients with prostate cancer. Our single-institution experience now exceeds 1000 cases of laparoscopic and robotic prostate surgery performed.
What Are The Procedures For Surgery Of Enlarged Prostate
The most commonly performed surgery for enlarged prostate is transurethral resection of the prostate .
This surgical procedure involves the insertion of a scope or an instrument through the penis to scrap the innermost portion of the prostate piece by piece. This is believed to be the most effective surgical procedure since it can relief your symptoms immediately as well.
Another procedure of enlarged prostate surgery is transurethral incision of the prostate .
This operation resembles TURP, but it is indicated when the size of prostate enlargement is relatively small. It is a non-invasive surgical procedure which means that you will not need to be hospitalized after it.
Similar to TURP, a scope is introduced through the penis till reaching the prostate afterward a small cut is done to widen the hole of urethra as well as bladder opening, rather than completely getting rid of prostate in TURP.
In Simple prostatectomy a small incision is performed in the abdominal area to remove the inner most part of the enlarged prostate, while the superficial part is left.
Simple prostatectomy is definitely performed under general anesthesia. This enlarged prostate surgery involves prolonged procedures and you will need to be hospitalized from five to ten days after having it.
Nowadays there are myriad less invasive techniques to treat prostate enlargement which can be done in your doctors clinic under local anesthesia or other sedations, you will not need to be hospitalized.
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