Doctor taking blood pressure of patient.

Simple Prostatectomy

Also known as: Target Prostatectomy

When it comes to symptoms of an enlarged prostate, procedures like the simple prostatectomy help our doctors provide the comprehensive and precise treatment each patient deserves. By prioritizing comfort and quality of life, our teams of surgeons and urologists are able to properly treat the sensitive urologic conditions that affect the everyday lives of our patients.

Used mainly for treating serious urinary issues and enlarged prostates, the simple prostatectomy is the surgical removal of a portion of the prostate.

Simple prostatectomy is an ideal treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), a condition in which the prostate begins to enlarge over time. BHP is most common among men over 60 years of age.

BPH and an enlarged prostate mostly affect the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. When someone has an enlarged prostate, its size obstructs the urethra, causing uncomfortable urinary symptoms such as:

  • Frequent need to urinate both day and night
  • Slow urinary stream
  • Delay in starting urination
  • Urgent feeling of needing to urinate
  • A urinary stream that stops and starts 

More severe urinary conditions, such as localized prostate cancer, are better treated by a radical prostatectomy. A radical prostatectomy removes the entire prostate and any surrounding lymph nodes. If used as a prostate cancer treatment, radical prostatectomy is often coupled with chemo or radiation therapy.

The operation is performed as an inpatient surgical procedure and administered under general anesthesia. Most patients are able to leave the hospital the following day.

During the procedure, your doctor uses a cystoscope to view your urethra, pinpointing the portion of prostate that needs to be removed. Your doctor will then insert a catheter through your penis into your bladder to drain any excess urine. Most patients will have to use the catheter for about a week after their surgery.

Once your prostate has been imaged (which may include various scans before your procedure takes place), your surgeon is ready to remove part of your prostate. Your surgeon will make a slight incision from your navel to about your penis. The portion of the prostate obstructing your urethra is then removed.

Your Providence caregivers will work to ensure you feel comfortable during your procedure. Our goal is to reduce your risk of complication and preserve as much of the natural prostate as possible.

A simple prostatectomy does carry more risks compared to other BPH treatments like greenlight therapy or transurethral resection due to the nature of the surgery. These include bleeding, damage to surrounding tissue, urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.