Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the surgical removal of part of the prostate gland.

Male genito-urinary-system Men can experience a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as they age. This is where the prostate gland increases in size and puts pressure on the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body (urethra).

Your doctor may suggest an operation called a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) to remove part of the prostate and restore urine flow by reducing pressure on the urethra and the bladder.

In some cases of low-grade prostate cancer - where the tumour is contained within the prostate and is pressing on the urethra - a TURP may also be used to remove the cancerous tissue.

BPH can cause the following:

  • The need to urinate frequently or urgently, even at night
  • Difficulty or straining during urination and a feeling you have not emptied your bladder fully
  • Weak or intermittent urine flow and urine leakage or dribbling

The prostate is normally the size of a walnut, but in BPH it can grow to the size of a small orange, pressing on the urethra and bladder and blocking or restricting urine flow.

BPH is NOT prostate cancer.

What does the TURP operation involve?

You will be given either a general anaesthetic or an epidural, where an anaesthetic is injected into the fluid around your spine to block sensation in the lower half of your body.

Resection of the prostate detail If you have an epidural you will be awake during the TURP, but will not be able to see what is happening.

TURP surgery takes from about an hour to 90 minutes to complete (1).

The surgeon inserts a thin, metal instrument called a resectoscope into your penis and up through the urethra. The surgeon can look down the resectoscope to examine the prostate in detail and can also look at pictures transmitted to a TV screen from a tiny video camera in the end of the instrument.

Attached to the resectoscope is an electrically-heated wire loop (or laser), which the doctor uses to remove the part of your prostate causing the problem.

A sterile solution flushes removed tissue down the resectoscope, some of which may be sent off to be analysed.

The surgeon will lastly insert a catheter into your urethra, so fluid can be flushed in and out of your bladder to clear away pieces of prostate tissue, blood clots and urine.

On occasion, cancerous cells are found when the tissue is examined under a microscope. When you return to the outpatient clinic, you can discuss with your consultant if any further treatment is required.

Infolinks:

Ref:

  1. Mayo Clinic | Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) | Accessed Sep 2009 | Last update May 2009 | Pub ref MY00633

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