How is the prostate removed?

Different procedures can be used to remove or resect a portion of the prostate.  One procedure is called transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).  In this procedure, tissue from the central portion of the prostate is removed to enlarge the size of the urethra in this region.  The prostate gland surrounds the urethra just below the bladder, and as it enlarges with age, can cause difficulty with urination.  The procedure is safe, but can result in bleeding for several days following the surgery.  The bleeding will gradually subside.

When the patient has prostate cancer, a radical prostatectomy is done to remove the entire prostate, the surrounding tissue and lymph nodes.  There is significant bleeding associated with this procedure.  Again, the bleeding will decrease in a few days following the procedure.

A computer enhanced robotic laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is an advanced procedure that is becoming the treatment of choice for prostate cancer.  This procedure involves very precise resection of the gland under microscopic guidance, avoiding nerves and blood vessels.  This results in significantly less bleeding than traditional radical prostatectomy.