Penectomy

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Penectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the partial or total removal of the penis. It is often performed as a treatment for penile cancer, severe trauma to the penis, or as part of sex reassignment surgery for transgender women.

Types of Penectomy[edit | edit source]

There are two main types of penectomy: partial and total.

  • Partial Penectomy: In a partial penectomy, only part of the penis is removed. The goal is to preserve as much penile length as possible while ensuring all cancerous or damaged tissue is removed. This procedure is often used in the treatment of penile cancer when the disease is localized to a specific part of the penis.
  • Total Penectomy: A total penectomy involves the removal of the entire penis. This procedure is typically reserved for cases where cancer has spread throughout the penis or when severe trauma has occurred. In some cases, a total penectomy may also be performed as part of sex reassignment surgery for transgender women.

Procedure[edit | edit source]

During a penectomy, the patient is placed under general anesthesia. The surgeon then makes an incision in the penis and removes the necessary tissue. If a total penectomy is being performed, the entire penis is removed. In some cases, the surgeon may also remove the scrotum and testicles, particularly in cases of sex reassignment surgery.

Following the removal of the penis, the surgeon creates a new opening for urine to exit the body, known as a urethrostomy. This is typically located in the perineum, the area between the scrotum and the anus.

Aftercare and Recovery[edit | edit source]

After a penectomy, patients typically stay in the hospital for several days to recover. Pain management is a key part of aftercare, as is monitoring for potential complications such as infection or bleeding.

Patients who have undergone a penectomy may also require psychological support to cope with the loss of their penis. This can include counseling or support groups.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit source]

Latest articles - Penectomy

PubMed
Clinical trials
UpToDate

AI tools[edit source]

Generative AI tools and links to learn more on Penectomy: ChatGPT - Bing Chat - Google Gemini. (caution advised).


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Bonnu, Prab R. Tumpati, MD