Overview
Open Radical Prostatectomy is surgery to remove the entire prostate gland and surrounding lymph nodes. This surgery is a treatment for men with localized prostate cancer. A surgeon can perform a radical prostatectomy using different techniques.
The operation may be done by open surgery or it may be done by laparoscopic surgery through small incisions. In open surgery, the surgeon makes an incision to reach the prostate gland. Depending on the case, the incision is made either in the lower belly or in the perineum between the anus and the scrotum.
Your surgeon will make a cut (incision) in your lower belly and remove the prostate through this opening. This type of surgery allows your physician to assess the prostate gland and surrounding tissue at the same time, while reducing injury to nearby organs. The prostate gland is removed with limited blood loss. The neurovascular bundles are preserved, and so is erectile function.