About TURP
It’s common for the prostate gland to grow bigger as men get older. The condition is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It is not cancer and there is no evidence that it leads to cancer. In some cases, it becomes large enough to put pressure on the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the penis). This can cause problems with urination, such as frequent trips to the toilet, including having to get up several times in the night, and dribbling of urine.
A transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP for short, is an operation to remove some or most of an enlarged prostate gland so that urine can flow more freely.
Prostate surgery is usually performed under general anaesthesia, which means that you will be asleep during the procedure. However, for some men, epidural or spinal anaesthesia is preferable. This completely blocks the feeling in your pelvis and legs, but you will still be awake. Your surgeon and anaesthetist will discuss which type of anaesthesia is most suitable for you.
TURP usually involves a hospital stay of up to four days. Your surgeon will explain the benefits and risks of having TURP, and will also discuss the alternatives to the procedure.
About the operation
Your surgeon will use a thin, tube-like telescope that has specially adapted surgical instruments. This instrument, called a resectoscope, is put into the opening of your penis and passed up the urethra towards the prostate.
An attachment at the end of the resectoscope is used to cut away part of the prostate, using a tiny loop of wire carrying an electric current. Your surgeon uses the same instrument, with a different type of electric current, to stop any bleeding. There are no stitches or dressings after this operation.
During the procedure, the bladder is flushed with sterile fluid to remove the pieces of prostate tissue. Afterwards, a catheter is inserted to allow urine to flow freely. This is a thin, sterile tube that is inserted through the urethra and into your bladder. It consists of two or three sections that allow fluid to pass in and out of the bladder at the same time. The operation lasts for about an hour.
TURP is a commonly performed and generally safe operation. However, all surgery carries risks as well as benefits.
Most men find that a lasting side-effect of a TURP is dry orgasm (retrograde ejaculation), which happens because semen can travel back up into the bladder rather than out through the penis. This should not interfere with sex and after recovery from the operation, most men return to the same level of sexual activity as before the treatment. However, this may affect your ability to father children through sexual intercourse.
Complications specific to TURP include urinary tract infection. This may need further treatment with antibiotics. It is also possible for too much water to be absorbed from the fluid used to flush the bladder during the operation. This can temporarily upset the balance of salts in the blood, making you feel unsteady and nauseous. The condition is known as TURP syndrome and can be treated.
It is possible to have some long-term urinary incontinence or problems emptying your bladder, even after the initial recovery period.
The chance of complications depends on the exact type of operation you are having and other factors, such as your general health. Ask your surgeon to explain how any risks apply to you.
To find out more about having prostate surgery in a Spire Healthcare hospital, please call our treatment enquiry team on 0800 434 6600.
