Complications

Complications During and After Prostate Cancer Surgery

One possible complication is that if the nerves that control the penis become damaged during prostatectomy. If this complication happens, patients may develop impotence. He should discuss this possibility with his doctor. Even during minimally invasive prostatectomy, there is bleeding involved which will make the surgical site difficult to see.  Those procedures frequently require suctioning of blood at the surgery site.  RPC technology will minimize this bleeding and the use of suctioning.  This will allow the surgeon to perform quicker and more accurate procedures. Cooling rapidly and indirectly of prostate before prostatectomy would give surgeons a better view of operation and less damage to the surrounding tissue and nerve bundles. [2, 3, 4]

The heat that transfers from the "Bovie" mono polar or polar tips to the surrounding tissue and nervous system can be damaging. Bundles of nerves to the penis that affect the man's ability to have an erection will be in jeopardy. By using RPC surgeons will leave neuron activity intact and preserved. Therefore, RPC preserves the man's ability to have an erection. [3, 4]

Advantages
  ± Without RPC the patient will lose more blood and will possibly have less active nerves.

Disadvantages
  ± RPC may discomfort the hemorrhoid because of its 0°C coldness of the tip. Also, RPC should not apply more than 15 minutes(cardiac arrest occurs).