Prostate Reconstruction

Prostate Reconstruction Surgery

Sometimes it’s necessary to have a prostatectomy to remove parts of an affected prostate gland, such as in instances of a tumor or cancer. The prostate gland is the size of a small ball that is situated deep inside the male groin and plays a vital role in sexual and urinary function. When this becomes cancerous or develops other problems, a prostatectomy is performed to treat the condition.

While prostatectomies can be highly effective for high-risk cancer patients, sometimes vital nerves related to normal erectile function are compromised as a result. If left uncorrected, patients can experience erectile dysfunction after prostatectomy.

Fortunately, nerves that are connected to erectile function can now be repaired using nerve grafting in a procedure known as prostate reconstruction surgery.

Both surgeries can be completed simultaneously. A prostate reconstruction surgery after a prostatectomy only adds about 30 minutes to the total procedure time. Typically, the surgeon will use an autograft (a piece of nerve from another body part in your own body, such as the calf muscle) to reconstruct damaged prostate nerves.

What to Expect

Before surgery, your doctor will likely order a variety of tests. These may include an MRI, CT scan, blood tests, and a bone scan. Following the tests, you will have a pre-surgery consultation, where your surgeon will address test results, procedure details, and preparation instructions.

A prostatectomy procedure is a general anesthesia procedure that involves making a small incision to access and then remove the prostate. The bladder is reattached to the urethra, and then a catheter is connected to allow fluids to drain during the healing process.

During a nerve graft surgery following a prostatectomy, you’ll remain under general anesthesia, and your surgeon will harvest a donor nerve from another location on your body. Common locations for grafting nerves include the back of the leg, the calf, the arm, and the forearm.

After the new nerve has been retrieved, the surgeon will return to the prostate. They will attach the appropriate amount of nerve to the damaged prostate nerves' ends, restoring nerve connection for normal erectile function. The total surgery time is usually between 2 and 3 hours.

After the Procedure

Patients can typically return home the same or next day. If it was a minor resection surgery, in which only a small amount of the gland has been removed and repaired, you may return home the same day. However, if it was a more serious prostatectomy in which the entire prostate gland was removed, your surgeon will likely recommend an overnight stay.

Your recovery time will depend on the extent of your condition, the surgery, and your overall health. In general, expect to rest at home with little activity for the first week following the procedure. Your doctor may prescribe medications for pain. Your catheter will likely be removed within 7-10 days following the procedure.

After a month of limited activity (no heavy lifting or strenuous activity), your doctor should clear you to return to work and resume your daily activities. Nerve grafts can take a few months to regain full function and sensation in the affected areas.

Risks & Side Effects

As with all surgeries, there are risks for complications and side effects. Adding a prostate reconstruction to a prostatectomy can help reduce some of the more undesirable risks, such as urinary and sexual function complications. However, nerve-repair surgeries also bring the potential for risk and side effects, such as pain or loss of sensation in the donor nerve area. Some risks associated with prostate reconstruction surgery:

Anesthesia complications
Infection
Scarring
Inability to recover full function
Complications with surgical wound healing

Am I a candidate?

Your doctor will determine if you are a good candidate for prostate reconstruction with prostatectomy surgery. Generally, patients that are in good health are expected to live at least 10 more years, need a prostatectomy, and can withstand surgery are generally good candidates for prostate reconstruction surgery. You will also need to be a good candidate for general anesthesia surgery, which typically includes:

Under the age of 65
Healthy weight
Few or no comorbidities (diabetes, heart disease)
Non-smoker

Our Surgeons

Our surgical team collaborates with a team of skilled urologists and utilizes cutting-edge surgical techniques to master this revolutionary new procedure, allowing prostatectomy patients to retain normal erectile function.

Physician

Andrew Elkwood

MD, FACS

Physician

Eric Wimmers

MD, FACS

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Find a Location

The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction makes getting specialized, world-class care as accessible and convenient as possible. We diagnose and treat prostate issues, erectile dysfunction, and numerous other conditions at the following locations:

Schedule an Appointment

If you have a prostatectomy planned, don’t delay. Call our team of prostate reconstruction specialists and schedule an appointment today to learn more about preserving sexual function after a prostatectomy.

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Prostate Reconstruction