Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a new technique in which a laparoscope, a slim tube with a tiny video camera on the end, is inserted into a small incision in the abdomen. While watching the procedure on a TV monitor, the surgeon inserts instruments through another small incision and removes the prostate gland.
This minimally invasive procedure is a promising alternative to the standard, "open" prostate surgery, with reduced blood loss, postoperative pain, catheterization time and hospital stay. The technique of laparoscopic nerve-sparing prostatectomy to preserve potency is still evolving.
Whether laparoscopic radical prostatectomy will gain worldwide acceptance is unknown. To date, no in-depth clinical studies have been conducted to compare the long-term benefits of the laparoscopic technique to standard techniques. This approach will likely be limited in the United States in the near future, given the time it takes to master the complexities of the procedure and the relatively few urologists performing it.
The Prostate Cancer pages of this Web site are part of the Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Awareness Program (CPCAP), a major regional effort to reduce the rates of death and illness caused by prostate cancer in southwestern Pennsylvania. Funding for CPCAP is provided by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
