Laparoscopic Prostatectomy Surgery

Laparoscopic simple prostatectomyis a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a part of the prostate gland (gland located below the bladder). The procedure is indicated for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, anoncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. The enlarged gland presses against the urinary bladder and urethra (tube transporting urine from the bladder to the outside) causing urinary problems. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia. Your surgeon makes 5 small keyhole incisions on the abdomen. A laparoscope (tube with a light and a tiny camera) is inserted to view the enlarged prostate. Surgical instruments are passed through the incisions to cut and remove the enlarged portion of the prostate gland. A catheter may be inserted at the surgical site to remove fluid build-up. The abdominal incisions are closed with sutures.

Like all surgical procedures,laparoscopic simple prostatectomymay be associated with certain complications, which include:

• injury to surrounding organs
• infertility
• urethral stricture (block in the urethra)
• bowel incontinence (problems controlling bowel movement)
• urinary incontinence (difficulty controlling urination)
• retrograde ejaculation (flow of sperm to urinary bladder instead of through the penis)

The advantages oflaparoscopic simple prostatectomywhen compared to open surgery include:

• Reduced hospital stay
• Faster recovery
• Less post-operative pain
• Smaller incisions and less scarring