Transurethral resection of the prostate - How it is performed
- Introduction
- When it's necessary
- Who can use it
- How it is performed
- Recovering from surgery
- Risks of surgery
- Alternatives to surgery
- Advantages-and-disadvantages
- Expertview
A transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is carried out in hospital under anaesthetic. You will usually need to stay in hospital for two to four days.
Preparing for surgery
There are some preparations you can make before surgery, to help reduce the risks of complications. These are explained below.
- You should try to ensure you are as fit as possible before the procedure. If you do not usually exercise regularly, you should aim to exercise for at least half an hour every day. Walking, swimming or even activities such as gardening are all good forms of exercise
- If you smoke, you should try to cut down or give up completely - this will help reduce your risk of developing heart and chest complications following the operation
- If you are currently taking anticoagulant medication, such as warfarin or clopidogrel, you will usually be asked to stop taking it at some point before the procedure - this is because this type of medication thins the blood, which could lead to excessive bleeding during surgery. Low-dose aspirin is normally fine but you should also check with your surgeon.
You may be sent an appointment for a pre-assessment of your health a few days before the operation. This may involve having blood tests and a general health check to make sure you are fit for surgery.
If you have a pre-assessment appointment, you can use it as an opportunity to discuss any concerns you have with your surgeon.
Before the procedure
You will usually be asked to stop eating and drinking around six hours before surgery. Depending on the results of your pre-assessment, you may be given compression stockings or blood-thinning medication to help prevent blood clots.
A TURP is performed using anaesthetic, so you will not feel any pain during the procedure. The type of anaesthetic used may be either:
- a general anaesthetic - where you will be unconscious throughout the procedure
- a spinal or epidural anaesthetic - where you will be awake during the procedure, but not able to feel anything below your waist
Surgery
A TURP is usually carried out using a device called a resectoscope. A resectoscope is a thin metal tube that contains:
- a light
- a camera
- a loop of wire
The surgeon will insert the resectoscope into your urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder to your penis) before guiding it to the site of your prostate with the help of the light and the camera.
An electric current is used to heat the loop of wire, and the heated wire is used to cut away the section of your prostate that is causing your symptoms. After the procedure, a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) is used to pump saline water into the bladder and flush away pieces of prostate that have been removed.
A TURP can take up to an hour to perform, depending on how much of your prostate needs to be removed.
Once the procedure has been completed, you will be moved back to your hospital ward so you can recover.
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