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Incremental nerve sparing

User
Posted 03 Feb 2023 at 09:17

Hi, I’ve just joined the community, it looks like a great resource. I am only three weeks post RP. Can someone explain (in layman’s language 😉) what is meant by ‘incremental’ nerve sparing? I supposedly had bilateral incremental nerve sparing surgery. I asked the surgeon and specialist nurse, but I’m non the wiser. Does it just mean partial nerve sparing? 

User
Posted 03 Feb 2023 at 12:57

This might be some layman's term for Neurosafe or Frozen Sections.

The only hospital which routinely offers this on the NHS as far as I know (excluding trials) is the Lister at Stevenage.

This means they do a nerve sparing prostatectomy and while you're still in theatre, histology check the prostate surface for clear margins. If margins aren't clear, then the surgeon will also remove the nerves where the cancer invaded them. This should improve the chance of having nerve sparing surgery while not increasing the risk of doing so.

User
Posted 03 Feb 2023 at 11:13
Yes - fancy word for they took some nerves but not all
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 03 Feb 2023 at 11:38
Such words leave room for doubt. I understand that some nerves have been preserved. Some men have a rather long but satisfactory recovery from erectile dysfunction. Others remain permanently impotent (even with so-called "nerve-preserving" surgery).

In all cases, there are solutions. Stay strong as well as your partner (if by chance there is one). While rigorously engaging in rehabilitation (IPDE5, pump, ICI,..), try to focus on the pleasure you can experience by keeping physical contact and touch (over which you are the master) as much as possible more than on the amount of nerve preservation (which you have no control over).

The surgeon did the job, now it's your turn !

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User
Posted 03 Feb 2023 at 11:13
Yes - fancy word for they took some nerves but not all
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 03 Feb 2023 at 11:38
Such words leave room for doubt. I understand that some nerves have been preserved. Some men have a rather long but satisfactory recovery from erectile dysfunction. Others remain permanently impotent (even with so-called "nerve-preserving" surgery).

In all cases, there are solutions. Stay strong as well as your partner (if by chance there is one). While rigorously engaging in rehabilitation (IPDE5, pump, ICI,..), try to focus on the pleasure you can experience by keeping physical contact and touch (over which you are the master) as much as possible more than on the amount of nerve preservation (which you have no control over).

The surgeon did the job, now it's your turn !

User
Posted 03 Feb 2023 at 12:57

This might be some layman's term for Neurosafe or Frozen Sections.

The only hospital which routinely offers this on the NHS as far as I know (excluding trials) is the Lister at Stevenage.

This means they do a nerve sparing prostatectomy and while you're still in theatre, histology check the prostate surface for clear margins. If margins aren't clear, then the surgeon will also remove the nerves where the cancer invaded them. This should improve the chance of having nerve sparing surgery while not increasing the risk of doing so.

 
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