Side effects of robotic radical prostatectomy

Robotic radical prostatectomy removes the prostate through small surgical openings, but nearby muscles, nerves and the urinary connection also need time to recover. Urinary leakage, urgency or a changed stream may occur, particularly when coughing or moving. Erections can be weaker or absent while nerves recover, and orgasm may feel different even when erections improve. Constipation, gas, wound soreness, bruising and tiredness are common parts of early recovery. Rarely, narrowing where urine exits, infection, bleeding or a blood clot can complicate healing. The operation’s side effects are separate from symptoms caused by prostate cancer, and the pattern differs with nerve preservation, previous treatment and overall health.

Follow the discharge plan for wound care, medicines, catheter care, lifting and walking. Pelvic-floor exercises should begin when the surgical team advises and work best with correct technique; a continence specialist can help. Drink and eat as directed, prevent constipation, and increase activity gradually. Tell the team about pain that is not controlled, urine changes, wound drainage, fever or concerns about intimacy. Erectile rehabilitation may include medicines, devices or counselling, depending on your health. Your clinician can also discuss radiotherapy or brachytherapy when comparing treatment paths for prostate cancer.

Seek urgent help for severe breathlessness, chest pain, fainting, sudden leg swelling, heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or a catheter that stops draining with increasing pain. Contact the surgical team promptly for fever, worsening wound redness, pus, persistent vomiting, inability to pass urine after catheter removal, or rapidly increasing pain. Do not remove or replace a catheter unless you have been instructed how to do so.

How should I perform pelvic-floor exercises, and when can I resume driving or lifting? What urinary and erectile changes are expected for my plan? Which wound or catheter signs need same-day advice? When will follow-up assess continence and sexual function?