Complications

Urinary incontinence: may resolve in 6 months

• The external urethral sphincter (which is composed of striated muscle thus under conscious control) is continuous with the isthmus of prostate thus prostatectomy results in incontinence.
• Scar tissue post-surgery can also narrow the bladder outlet causing overflow incontinence.
• Incontinence can range from stress incontinence (urination on cough, laugh,exercise or sneeze), overflow incontinence (dribbling, unable to fully empty bladder) urge incontinence or continuous incontinence.

Erectile dysfunction:

• Prostatectomy can also damage the right and/or left cavernous nerve which provides innervation to the penis leading to erectile dysfunction.

Other complications (as with any surgery):

• Anaphylactic reaction to anaesthesia
• Bleeding
• Thromboembolism
• Infections at surgical site.