How Robotic Surgery Is Preventing Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is a potential complication from some surgeries. However, robotic surgery minimises this risk greatly.

Erectile dysfunction is surprisingly common, especially among older men. Sometimes ED can occur naturally, but in other instances, it can also be a side effect of some urological surgeries, such as cystectomy and prostatectomy.

Fortunately, advances in urological procedures, like robotic surgery, aim to reduce the prevalence of these side effects.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve an erection, a firm enough erection needed for sexual intercourse, or the inability to sustain an erection long enough to achieve sexual climax.

For males, sexual arousal is a complex phenomena, affected by a multitude of factors including the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels.

ED is almost always the symptom or result of another related problem, which can be either physical or psychological.

Occasionally, experiencing difficulties in achieving or maintaining an erection isn’t necessarily a case of erectile dysfunction, but if it becomes a reoccurring problem, speaking with a doctor is recommended.

 

Erectile Dysfunction as a Result of Surgery

Men achieve an erection when they are sexually stimulated, which results in nerve messages releasing chemicals that increase blood flow into the penis. Surgery such as cystectomy and prostatectomy, which operate on this region, can disrupt these nerves, resulting in erectile dysfunction.

Robotic surgery allows greater precision, control and flexibility of the surgeon’s movements. This allows surgeons to perform delicate and complex procedures and do so without encroaching on nearby organs and nerve tissue.

Robotic surgery has many benefits over the traditional open operation, including lower blood loss, reduced hospital stay, and improved urinary control and erectile function. The latter has been proven in scientific studies.

Managing Erectile Dysfunction with Urology Specialist

During his two year fellowship, Dr Arianayagam spent a significant amount of time learning from Dr Murugesan Manoharan, Professor of Urology and Program Director at the Department of Urology of the University of Miami Miller School Medicine.

With Dr Manoharan as a mentor and teacher, sufficient experience was gained in robotic surgery. Dr Arianayagam is particularly interested in analysing the differences between open and robotic, especially in robotic prostatectomy and cystectomy regarding preserving erectile function. He is considered one of the leading robotic surgeons in the country.

It is important to talk to a trusted healthcare professional before making any decisions about your urological health. If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment, please feel free to contact or call Dr Arianayagam’s office on 1300 307 990 and his staff will be able to assist.

Learn some more about the robotic surgeries Dr Arianayagam provides below:

Everything You Need to Know About Robotic Cystectomy

Everything You Need To Know About Robotic Adrenalectomy

What is Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty? And How Does It Work?