In an Open Radical Prostatectomy, a small incision is made from the pubic bone up towards the belly button. A tube (catheter) will be placed in your bladder to drain urine. The prostate is then removed and the bladder joined back to the urethra.

Information gathered prior to the procedure, together with the look and feel of the tissues during the operation, assists Dr Swindle to decide how much tissue must be removed around the prostate to completely excise the cancer, whilst preserving as much of the neurovascular bundles as possible.

Additional suction drains are left beside the bladder deep in the cavity to drain any fluid that accumulates, decreasing the risk of infection and pressure from any fluid that might accumulate in the operative bed.

Although the surgery for open radical prostatectomy takes about 2-3 hours, you will be in the operating room for 1-2 hours longer because of the anaesthesia and preoperative measures.