Prostatectomy in Sharjah

What is prostatectomy?

Prostatectomy is an operation that removes prostate tissue through the abdomen rather than through the urethra. The name covers two quite different operations, and knowing which one you are having makes the rest of the information easier to follow.

| | Radical prostatectomy | Simple prostatectomy |
|---|---|---|
| Treats | Prostate cancer confined to the gland | A very large benign (non-cancerous) prostate |
| What is removed | The whole prostate, its capsule and the seminal vesicles, sometimes with nearby lymph nodes | The enlarged inner core only; the outer shell stays |
| Reconnection | The bladder is stitched directly to the urethra | The urethra runs through the remaining shell |

Both operations can be done as open surgery, through a single incision in the lower abdomen, or laparoscopically, through several small cuts with a camera, as described on the laparoscopic urology page. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, the specialist urologist recommends the approach that suits your anatomy and diagnosis. The wider choice between prostate operations is set out on the prostate surgery page.

Who needs it

Radical prostatectomy is one option for men whose prostate cancer is confined to the gland and who are fit for a major operation. Diagnosis usually follows a raised PSA or an abnormal examination, often picked up through prostate cancer screening, then imaging and a biopsy. The alternatives include radiotherapy and, for some slow-growing cancers, active surveillance with regular PSA tests and scans. The decision weighs the cancer's grade and extent, your age and health, and how you feel about the effects of each treatment on bladder control and erections.

Simple prostatectomy is for men with severe urinary symptoms from benign enlargement whose gland is too large to trim efficiently from the inside. For smaller glands, a telescopic operation such as TURP is usually the first surgical choice. Your urologist explains why one suits you better, and the choice is made together.

What happens

Prostatectomy is done under general anaesthesia. In a radical prostatectomy the surgeon frees the prostate from the bladder above and the urethra below, removes it with the seminal vesicles, and then stitches the bladder neck to the urethra to form a new join. Where the cancer allows, the surgeon works close to the gland to preserve the fine nerves beside it that support erections; this nerve-sparing step is planned in advance from your scans and biopsy.

In a simple prostatectomy the surgeon opens the prostate's outer shell and shells out the enlarged core, much like lifting the flesh from inside a fruit, then closes the shell.

A catheter is placed through the urethra at the end of either operation. After a radical prostatectomy the catheter acts as a splint while the new join between bladder and urethra heals, which is why it stays in for longer than after a telescopic operation. A drain beside the wound may be left for a short time. Nurses help you to sit out and walk early, which lowers the chance of clots and helps the bowel wake up.

Preparing for it

A pre-operative assessment checks your heart, lungs, blood count and kidney function. Bring your full medicine list; blood thinners, diabetes medicines and herbal supplements each need a plan, and you receive fasting instructions.

Start pelvic floor exercises in the weeks before a radical prostatectomy. These are the muscles you use to stop the flow of urine midstream, and training them early helps bladder control return sooner after surgery. The team can arrange pelvic floor therapy for guided practice. Stopping smoking helps wound healing. If surgery falls near Ramadan, raise it early so fasting, fluids and medicines can be planned together, and arrange help at home for the first weeks.

Afterwards

You go home with the catheter in place and a leg bag, and the nurses show you how to care for it before you leave. Once the catheter is removed, some leakage of urine is expected at first, so bring pads to that appointment. Keep up your pelvic floor exercises every day.

Walk a little more each day, avoid heavy lifting and straining, and keep your bowel motions soft. In the Sharjah heat, drink steadily to keep urine pale, and keep the wound clean and dry. Your urologist gives you a personal timeline for driving and returning to work, which varies between desk jobs, driving jobs and manual work.

After a radical prostatectomy the PSA blood test becomes your follow-up marker. With the gland gone, PSA should fall to a very low level, and regular checks at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah confirm that it stays there.

Contact the hospital urgently if the catheter stops draining, if the wound becomes red, swollen or leaks, or if you develop a fever. **Go to the emergency department straight away for chest pain, sudden breathlessness, a painful swollen calf, or severe abdominal pain with swelling.**

Cost and insurance

Most UAE insurance plans cover prostatectomy when it is medically needed, with pre-approval required. For radical prostatectomy insurers usually ask for the biopsy report and staging scans; for simple prostatectomy, the prostate size and flow studies. The hospital stay, pathology and follow-up PSA tests may be approved separately, and some plans limit pelvic floor therapy sessions. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover on 06 599 7777.