The invention of new techniques and the use of robotic aids, has allowed doctors to minimize the side effects of prostate surgery. However, a patient who undergoes any type of prostate surgery still may suffer from one or more side effects. A proper understanding of these risks in important for anyone who is contemplating prostate resection. Remember to ask your surgeon about these consequences.
Incontinence
Urinary incontinence, the inability to control urination, is a significant risk to patients who undergo prostate surgery, according to Surgery.com. Up to 27 percent of patients complain of needing some type of leakage protection wear. Most people will experience some for of incontinence after the catheter is removed. As many as 20 percent of men who undergo the surgery complain of some incontinence one year post-surgery. The most important factor in determining whether a patient will suffer from incontinence is the preoperative condition of the bladder.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of prostate surgery. This side effect is caused when nerves near the prostate are damaged or removed during the operation. Immediately after surgery all men will be unable to have an erection. Macmillan Cancer Support reports that in men under 60 who undergo open total prostatectomy there is a 50 percent chance that they will suffer from some form of erectile dysfunction. The risk is higher for older men and patients who do not undergo surgeries that try to spare the nerves. Surgery.com reports the incidence of long-term erectile dysfunction in postoperative patients is 3 to 5 percent. There are treatments that can be used to help patients achieve a normal erection.
Infertility
The prostate is an important gland in the male reproductive system. Surgeries done to remove a part or all of the prostate usually lead to infertility in the patient. This means that the patient will no longer be able to naturally have children. This is an important side effect for those men who still wish to start a family. Fertility specialists can offer alternative ways to have children.
Retrograde Ejaculation
Retrograde ejaculation is a condition in which a man's ejaculate or sperm does not proceed into the urethra upon climax but rather flows backward into the bladder. A weakening in the bladder sphincter usually causes this detour. The ejaculate is then released when the patient urinates. This is not a common side effect of prostate surgery, but it is seen in some patients. When a patient experiences this effect there can be some anxiety. This side effect can lead to an increased risk of urinary tract infection, so patients must inform their doctor if they think they might have the condition.
Bowel Dysfunction
Often, prostate surgery can cause damage to the rectal tissue. In these cases, the patient may experience constipation or diarrhea. According to Macmillan Cancer Support, most patients experience bowel dysfunction for the first couple of months after surgery. Men who experience bowel problems for longer should consult their doctor.
Non-Urologic Side Effects
The most common effects that may occur during or after the surgery are myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), pulmonary embolisms, deep vein thromboses or cerebrovascular accidents (strokes). Surgery.com reports that there is less than a 1 percent chance that patients will contract these conditions. Because each of these side effects are life-threatening, it is important for patients to ask for information from their doctors.
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