Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)

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Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is surgery to remove part of your prostate. TURP can relieve symptoms of enlarged prostate, such as difficulty urinating and frequent urination.

What Is TURP?

The treatment involves the insertion of a thin instrument called a resectoscope through the tip of the penis and into the urethra. The resectoscope allows your doctor to remove the excess prostate tissue that is preventing the urine from flowing.

This procedure does not require making any incisions to your body, and overall takes around an hour to complete. Patients who undergo TURP will be able to return to their everyday activities within a couple of weeks after the procedure.

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Is TURP Right for You?

TURP is recommended for men who have moderate to severe urinary problems, and have not responded well to medication or other treatments for BPH.

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Benefits of TURP

The TURP procedure treats several different urinary symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), including:

Frequent need to urinate
Slow urination
Difficulty starting urination
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

It also prevents issues that arise due to a blocked urine flow, such as:

Kidney or bladder damage
Bladder stones
Blood in your urine
Inability to control urination

Additionally, TURP provides patients with fast results. Most men notice an improvement in their urinary symptoms within just a few days after the procedure. It also allows patients to return to their regular daily activities within several weeks of recovery.

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How Does it Work?

Prior to the surgery, you will be administered either general or spinal anesthesia.

General anesthesia will render you unconscious, while spinal anesthesia will keep you conscious throughout the procedure. You may also be given antibiotics to prevent any possible infections.

Procedure

This procedure does not require any incisions on your body

Instead, the resectoscope is inserted into the tip of your penis. It then extends through your urethra and into the prostate area.

The resectoscope is used to trim the excess prostate tissue from the inside of your prostate gland. As these small pieces of tissue are cut, irrigating fluid transports them to your bladder. They are then removed at the end of the procedure.

Recovery

After the procedure, you will be required to remain overnight for observation. You will have a urinary catheter in place due to the swelling that blocks the flow of urine. The catheter will be kept for at least 24 to 48 hours. Once the swelling decreases and you are able to urinate on your own, the catheter will be removed.

Overall, it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to fully recover from TURP. Avoid doing any strenuous exercise or lifting heavy objects until your doctor tells you that it is okay to do so. If you are taking prescription pain medications after the procedure, do not drive a vehicle or operate any machinery. If your job does not require any physical exertion, you may return to work after 2 to 3 weeks.

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Risks

There are several risks and complications associated with TURP.

Potential risks associated with Turp include, but are not limited to:

Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are common after any prostate procedure. It has a higher chance of occuring the longer you have a catheter in place after the treatment.

Difficulty with Urination

Several days after the procedure, you may experience difficulty in urinating. A catheter will be required to transport urine out of the bladder until you are able to urinate on your own.

Heavy Bleeding

In some cases, it is possible for men to lose heavy amounts of blood from the procedure. Men with prostates of a larger size have a higher chance of significant blood loss.

Dry Orgasm

One of the most common long-term side effects of any type of prostate surgery is retrograde ejaculation, or more commonly known as a dry orgasm. This is when the semen releases into the bladder instead of out of the penis during ejaculation. While this does not cause any pain or affect your sexual pleasure, it can prevent you from fathering a child.

FAQS

How do I prepare for the TURP procedure?

Prior to the treatment, you may be required to stop taking medications that could increase your risk of bleeding. This includes non prescription pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, etc.), and naproxen sodium (Aleve, etc.), or blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) or clopidogrel (Plavix).

When will I feel the results?

TURP relieves symptoms rather quickly. It is common to experience a significantly stronger flow of urine within a few days after the procedure. However, follow-up treatment to ease symptoms may be required after several years have passed.

What are the possible side effects of the procedure?

Common temporary side effects of the procedure include blood in your urine or irritating urinary symptoms. This can include painful urination, or a frequent need to urinate. However, if the blood in your urine is thick, the bleeding appears to be worsening, or if the painful urination does not improve in six to eight weeks, contact your doctor immediately.

What should I do after the procedure?

In the weeks following the procedure, your doctor will most likely recommend that you drink plenty of water to flush out the bladder, eat foods with high fiber to avoid constipation, and to avoid strenuous activity, sex, and driving until your doctor says it is okay to resume these activities.

When should I contact my doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you notice that you are unable to urinate, if you notice that your urine is bright red with clots, or if you develop a fever.

Testimonials

" I got almost immediate results from TURP. It gave me my sleep back. If you want to change your life, get your sleep back, have it done. "

- John Matejov, TURP Procedure Patient

" Having had the surgery, I really am so much better and I don’t have the stress anymore. One of the many benefits of having the TURP, is that they can test the tissue which is taken away from the prostate for any abnormalities. In my case everything came back fine so it was a huge sense of relief and my wellbeing now is excellent. I sleep very well; I do still wake up in the night sometimes but that is normal for someone of my age. "

- Nigel Batt, TURP Procedure Patient