During the surgery, after removal of the prostate, we can use the nerve stimulator to determine the likelihood that erectile function will return, said Hull. If we get a good response using the CaverMap following surgery, the prognosis will be good. This is important because even when the nerves are spared, erectile function usually does not return immediately. This helps the surgeon inform the patient of his prognosis for return of his erections following recovery. The new device cannot be used for all men undergoing prostatectomy and it is normally limited to men in the early stages of the disease.
Advanced cases require removing a wider area around the tumor, making it risky to spare the nerves.