Prospective Randomized Trial of Seminal Vesicle-Sparing Prostatectomy and Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy in Men With Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

Surgical removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy) is a common and generally effective treatment for prostate cancer. However, standard prostatectomy can affect urinary continence and sexual function. Different surgical techniques, such as nerve-sparing prostatectomy and seminal vesicle-sparing prostatectomy, may limit these treatment-related effects. In a standard prostatectomy, the seminal vesicles are removed completely. In contrast, during a seminal vesicle-sparing prostatectomy, the surgeon leaves a portion of the seminal vesicles intact. This is done because the nerves that are important to urinary continence and erectile function are located close to the seminal vesicles. The purpose of this study is to determine whether patients who undergo nerve-sparing prostatectomy with seminal vesicle-sparing experience better urinary and sexual functioning after surgery than patients who undergo standard nerve-sparing prostatectomy.