Retropubic Prostatectomy – means the surgeon will make an incision in the lower abdominal area. The surgeon may remove lymph nodes during this operation through the same incision. This is known as a pelvic node dissection, and is done to determine if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. If cancer is present in the lymph nodes, the surgeon usually will not remove the prostate and will discuss other options available for advanced stage prostate cancer.

The retropubic approach provides the surgeon with the opportunity to do nerve-sparing techniques to save potency ability for the patient. During this procedure, the surgeon carefully feels the nerve bundles on either side of the prostate, and if it appears the cancer has not involved the nerve bundles, the surgeon will not remove them. Because these nerves are responsible for erections, leaving them intact lowers the risk of impotence after surgery. The possibility of impotence still prevails however, after prostate surgery.

** Please refer to Instructions for Radical Prostatectomy for further information regarding day of surgery, length of hospital stay, and at home care after surgery.