Prostate surgery and laser prostate surgery at Spire Edinburgh Hospitals Murrayfield and Shawfair Park

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 four to six weeks of your referral or diagnosis by your consultant.

You can expect to receive high-quality care with a consultant of your choice.

We have a range of procedures available for prostate surgery. All have their own potential benefits and risks which your consultant will discuss with 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 typically one to three days after the operation

Laser prostate surgery

• A specialised tool is passed through your urethra and a laser (eg GreenLight laser) which generates intense heat is used to trim small pieces of prostate tissue
• Performed under general anaesthetic
• You'll need a urinary catheter for 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

Prostate artery embolisation (PAE)

• Shrinks the size of your prostate by blocking the arteries that feed it
• Performed using local anaesthetic
• A urinary catheter isn’t usually required

Your consultant will recommend a treatment based on your condition and overall health.

Coming into hospital

Our Spire Murrayfield Hospital is an approximate 20 minute drive east from Edinburgh Airport or 10 minutes west from Haymarket train station. Spire Shawfair Park Hospital is to the south east of Edinburgh city centre, conveniently located close to the City Bypass and the Royal Infirmary. There’s free parking available for you and your visitors.

Meeting your consultant

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

• Your symptoms and medical history
• If your consultant requires any additional tests or scans to help plan your treatment
• Alternative treatments or lifestyle changes which may help
• What the treatment involves and procedure options
• Potential benefits and risks of prostate surgery

You may also need a pre-operative assessment with a specialist nurse before going ahead with treatment. This is to ensure you're fit and well enough for surgery.

Prostate surgery takes from 45 minutes to 120 minutes. If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in our lounge while you have your operation.

After surgery, you may need a urinary catheter until the swelling in your urethra has gone down, allowing you to pass urine normally again. This will be taken out by one of our nurses before you leave hospital – which is usually for two to three nights after your operation.

Our nurses will provide you with medication to help you manage any pain following your operation. They’ll also give you advice about over-the-counter medications you can use while at home, and anything you should or shouldn’t do.

Your recovery time will depend on the procedure you've had and your overall health. Although everyone’s different and you should always follow your consultant’s advice. Here’s a typical timeline for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) - the most common procedure: