Prostate surgery and laser prostate surgery at Spire Portsmouth Hospital

Spire Portsmouth Hospital is an established local private hospital providing comprehensive treatments and care to our patients in Hampshire.

Our urologists are specialists in men’s health and have expertise in prostate surgery. Our dedicated nurses will provide you with expert aftercare, to help you get back to your usual activities as soon as possible.

You can expect fast access to diagnostic tests and scans, consultations and treatments. It usually takes three to four weeks from referral or diagnosis by your consultant to having prostate surgery.

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

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

Coming into hospital

Spire Portsmouth Hospital is located on the West Sussex/Hampshire border in Havant, just off the B2148 Rowlands Castle to Emsworth Road. We're a 20 minute drive from Chichester or Fareham. 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.

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 with Freeview
• Garden view
• Armchair
• Wardrobe

The procedure lasts for an hour and a half. If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in our restaurant 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.

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: