EERPE

Nerve-sparing

Besides varying degrees of incontinence, impaired potency after radical prostatectomy remains the most distressing side effect, the reason for this being removal of those nerves responsible for erectile function, (neurovascular bundle), which run bilaterally in direct proximity to the prostate. Under certain conditions, this neurovasascular bundle can be spared uni- or bilaterally, thus significantly enhancing the patient's chances of regaining erectile function. The prerequisites for nerve sparing entail the presence of a low risk constellation, i.e. a PSA value lower than 10 ng/ml, a Gleason score of 6 or lower and minimal tumor development detected in the prostate biopsy material.