Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
Prostate problems are common. If your medication does not help or symptoms are severe, prostate surgery should relieve your symptoms.
Your prostate gland is an organ that lies under your bladder and surrounds your urethra (tube that carries urine and semen to the tip of your penis). Prostate problems are caused by the growth of your prostate gland.
It is normal for your prostate gland to get larger with age. If the gland tightens around your urethra it can interrupt the flow of urine from your bladder.
You should get a better flow of urine and improved bladder emptying, and not need to pass urine as often during the night.
For most men an operation is not essential. There are medications available to treat the condition but this is rarely a permanent solution.
The operation is performed under a general or spinal anaesthetic. The operation usually takes less than an hour.
Your surgeon will place a resectoscope (a small operating telescope) with lubricating fluid into your urethra and remove enough prostate tissue to relieve the pressure on your urethra.
You will feel a stinging pain the first few times you pass urine.
You should be able to go home after 2 to 3 days.
You should be able to return to work after 4 to 6 weeks, depending on your type of work.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
Most men make a good recovery, with a large improvement in their symptoms.
Your prostate gland can grow larger again and symptoms can come back and be worse.
Some complications can be serious and can even cause death.
General complications of any operation
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clot in your leg
- Blood clot in your lung
Specific complications of this operation
- Feeling breathless or confused
- Problems having an erection
- Difficulty passing urine
- Incontinence
- Needing to pass urine more often and sudden urges to pass urine
- Reduction in fertility
- Narrowing of your urethra
Consultants who provide this treatment
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