A radical prostatectomy, or removal of a cancerous prostate gland, can be a lifesaving procedure, said Hull. But the accidental severing of the erection nerves near this gland during the procedure causes impotence. Fear of this complication has caused men to avoid seeking cancer screening tests and caused many to choose non-surgical treatments like radiation and watchful waiting. In recent years, surgeons have put a much greater emphasis on sparing the nerves, thus cutting the risk of impotence. This is particularly important, explained Hull, since the men who benefit from this surgery are usually younger, healthier men who have a significant life expectancy following surgery.
Sexual function is an important part of their lives.
The new technology, using a device called the CaverMap, refines the nerve-sparing surgery and may help reduce impotence rates after surgery. The device allows us to better localize the nerve at the time of radical prostatectomy and improves the likelihood that the nerves will be spared, said Hull. The nerves, which are no bigger than a human hair, transmit the signal that sparks an erection. They are entwined with blood vessels and tissue, and therefore are very difficult for the surgeon to see during the prostatectomy. Using the CaverMap during surgery, the surgeon points a slender wand with an electronic probe at the area where he suspects the nerve to be.