Surgery Overview
During transurethral resection of the
prostate (TURP), an instrument is inserted up the
to remove the section of the prostate that is
blocking urine flow.
TURP usually requires hospitalization and is
done using a
or
.
What To Expect After Surgery
The hospital stay after TURP is
commonly 1 to 2 days.
Following surgery, a
is used to remove blood or blood clots in the
that may result from the procedure. When the
urine is free of significant bleeding or blood clots, the catheter can be
removed and you can go home.
Strenuous activity, constipation, and
sexual activity should be avoided for about 6 weeks. Symptoms such as frequent
urination will continue for a while because of irritation and inflammation
caused by the surgery. But they should ease during the first 6 weeks.
Why It Is Done
Your doctor may recommend TURP if
symptoms caused by
have not improved
in response to home treatment and medicines.
TURP is now the most
common surgery used to remove part of an enlarged prostate. Open
prostatectomies (in which an incision is made into the abdomen) generally are
needed only when the prostate is very large.
How Well It Works
For men who have moderate to severe
symptoms of prostate enlargement, TURP is more effective than watchful waiting
in relieving urinary symptoms. Studies have found that:
- Men who had TURP had a lower symptom score
compared with those who used watchful waiting.1
- Symptoms get better for 7 to 10 out of 10 men
who have the surgery.2
On the average, men experience an 85% improvement in their
American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index
scores.2 For example, if you had a score of 25, after
this surgery it might be reduced to about 4. Men who are very bothered by their
symptoms are most likely to notice great improvement in their symptoms after
TURP. Men who are not very bothered by their symptoms are less likely to notice
a significant change.
Risks
The risks of transurethral resection of the
prostate (TURP) include problems with sexual performance, incontinence, and
problems from surgery.
Problems with sexual performance
- Ejaculation into the bladder (retrograde
ejaculation) is very common, occurring in about 25 to 99 men out of
100.2 This does not affect sexual
function.
- may develop in men
who did not have problems before the procedure. The risk of this may depend on
how sexual performance is defined and measured, how sexually active the man was
before the surgery, and how old he is. Many men in the age group who are likely
to have BPH also have some problems with getting an erection. Subsequent
erection problems are reported by about 3 to 35 men out of 100.2 Medicine can help some men achieve
an erection after they have had TURP.