Prostate surgery and laser prostate surgery at Spire Parkway Hospital

Spire Parkway Hospital is an established local private hospital providing comprehensive treatments and care to our patients in Birmingham and the surrounding areas.

Our expert consultants will provide you with a treatment and recovery plan that’s personalised to your needs. We offer fast access to diagnostic tests and scans and consultations, so you won’t have to wait long to find out if surgery is right for you. We’ll usually be able to book your surgery within one to two weeks of your referral or diagnosis by your consultant.

You can expect to receive high-quality care in our clean, modern facilities from a consultant of your choice.

We offer a variety of treatments for prostate surgery. Treatment choices available to you will depend on your condition and your general health. Your consultant will discuss which treatment is best for you.

The type of anaesthetic you need varies depending on the procedure you need. It may be:

• A general anaesthetic meaning you’re asleep – this is most often used
• A spinal or epidural – where you can’t feel anything from the waist down
• A local anaesthetic – you’ll be awake but you won’t be able to feel anything in the area being operated on

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

• A special instrument is passed through your urethra and a small, electrically-heated wire is used to trim small pieces of prostate tissue
• Performed under general anaesthetic
• You’ll need a urinary catheter for around one to three days after the operation

Transurethral electrovaporisation of the prostate (TUVP)

• Similar to TURP, but a rollerball instead of a wire loop is used to apply electrical energy to the tissue
• Performed under general or spinal anaesthetic
• A catheter is still required, but may be for a shorter time than TURP

Laser prostate surgery

• A specialised tool is passed through your urethra and a laser (eg a HoLEP Holmium laser or GreenLight laser) which generates intense heat is used to trim small pieces of prostate tissue
• Performed under general anaesthetic
• You usually need a urinary catheter for around one to three days after the operation, but it may be for a shorter time than with a TURP

UroLift (prostatic urethral lift (PUL) implants)

• Instead of removing prostate tissue, implants are positioned to hold your prostate out of the way and increase the width of your urethra
• This procedure can be performed under general or local anaesthetic
• Usually, a urinary catheter isn’t required

Water ablation (REZUM therapy)

• Water or steam under pressure is used to destroy prostate tissue
• Performed using general or spinal anaesthetic
• You’ll need a urinary catheter, usually until you leave the day after.

Every treatment has its own benefits and risks which your consultant will explain to you during your consultation.

Getting here

Spire Parkway Hospital is situated a few miles south of Birmingham city centre in Solihull, the hospital is near to both Birmingham International and Solihull train stations. We have free on-site parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultation

You’ll meet your chosen consultant in one of our private consultation rooms. They’ll discuss:

• Your symptoms and any particular urinary problems you’re having
• What the treatment options are, including alternatives to surgery such as medication and lifestyle changes
• Whether you need any tests or scans to help your consultant plan the next steps
• The potential benefits and risks of treatment

You may also need a pre-operative assessment with one of our specialist nurses to check if the procedure is right for you.

You’ll usually stay with us for one to two nights so you’ll be shown to your own en-suite room before your operation. All of our private rooms have:

• TV
• En-suite
• Window
• Armchair
• Free WiFi

The procedure lasts for around 45 minutes to an hour and a half. If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in your private room while you have your operation.

You may need a urinary catheter after the operation. This is because your urethra may be swollen which can block urine from passing. It will be removed before you leave hospital.

As expected after surgery, you’ll feel some pain afterwards. Our nurses will help you manage this by giving you painkillers and advice about what over-the-counter medicines you can take after you leave hospital.

Although the recovery time varies depending on the procedure you've had and your overall health, here’s a guide to recovery timeline for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) – the most common procedure: