What are the risks of surgery?

Prostate surgery (prostatectomy) is a serious and large invasive surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia. The patient must be hospitalized. The risk of complications is always high; for example, there is a risk of nerve damage in the vicinity of the prostate, which results in impotence. Although surgical procedures are under constant development, including robotic surgery, the long-term results show that the risks are still present despite all the progress. The main risks are impotence and incontinence.

  Up to 75% of men undergoing the operation have problems with impotence

In terms of the psychological state of the patients, permanent impotence resulting from surgical treatment is a major complication. A huge percentage of patients are still at an active age, when the quality of life plays an important role, and sexual activity is definitively an essential part of the quality of life.

  Up to 30% of men after surgery suffer from (long-term) incontinence

This condition after treatment is a significant complication for reintegration into active life, whether it is a return to work or social life. The very fact that almost a third of males after surgery suffer from unwanted urine leakage is a social and hygiene problem. Health insurance companies are faced with huge costs to pay for incontinence (for example VZP reports up to CZK 1.5 billion a year).

  Up to 30% of men after surgery must also undergo postoperative radiation therapy

The reason is the impossibility of removing the entire tumor bed or the risk of the recurrence of the disease. Of course, patients are exposed to the risk of other side effects.

  10% of men operated on experience disease recurrence after years

Cancer recurrence (relapse) is a major problem, and subsequently it is necessary to proceed to other treatment modalities (hormone therapy, conventional irradiation). This is again associated with risks and complications.

For surgery, hospitalization is always required, and subsequently, the patient is not able to work for at least 14 days. There is a risk of an increased incidence of acute complications, pain in the operated area, problems with urinary incontinence and subsequent sexual dysfunction.