Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 11/24/2009
TURP patients usually notice urine flow improvement as soon as the catheter is removed. Other improvements depend on the condition of the patient's prostate before TURP, his age, and overall health status. Patients are told to expect the persistance of some pre-surgery symptoms. In fact, some new symptoms may appear following TURP, such as occasional blood and tissue in the urine, bladder spasms, pain when urinating, and difficulty judging when to urinate. TURP represents a major adaptation for the body, and healing requires some time. Full recovery may take up to one year. Patients are almost always satisfied with their TURP outcome, and the adaptation to new symptoms is offset by the disappearance of previous problems. For example, most patients no longer have to take daily prostate medication, and quickly learn to gradually increase the time between urinating while enjoying uninterrupted and more restful sleep at night.
Normal post-operative symptoms include:
- urination at night and reduced flow
- mild burning and stinging sensation while urinating
- reduced semen at ejaculation
- bladder control problems
- mild bladder spams
- fatigue
- urination linked to bowel movements
To eliminate these symptoms, patients are advised to:
- Exercise.
- Retrain their bladder
- Take all medications that were prescribed after TURP
- Inform themselves via support groups or pertinent reading
- Get plenty of rest to facilitate the post-surgery healing process
Advertisement
A Transurethral Resection of the Prostate or TURP is a procedure to expand the dimensions of the urethra or urine outflow tract. This video shows what a urologist sees during a TURP. Note that this video shows surgery on an living human.
An enlarged prostate can cause urinary problems due to its location around the male urethra (A). In TURP, the physician uses a cystoscope to gain access to the prostate through the urethra (B). The prostate material that has been restricting urine flow is cut off in pieces, which are washed into the bladder with water from the scope (B). (Illustration by GGS Inc.)
Other Information
Transurethral resection of the prostate (also known as TURP, plural TURPs and as a transurethral prostatic resection TUPR) is a urological operation. It is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As the name indicates, it is performed by visualising the prostate through the urethra and removing tissue by electrocautery or sharp dissection. This is considered the most effective treatment for BPH. This procedure is done with spinal or general anesthetic. A large triple lumen catheter is inserted through the urethra to irrigate and drain the bladder after the surgical procedure is complete. Outcome is considered excellent for 80-90% of BPH patients. Because of bleeding risks associated with the surgery, TURP is not considered safe for many patients with cardiac problems. As with all invasive procedures, the patient should first discuss medications they are taking with their doctor, most especially blood thinners or anticoagulants, such as warfarin (Coumadin), or aspirin. These may need to be discontinued prior to surgery. Postop complications include bleeding (most common), clotting and hyponatremia (due to bladder irrigation).
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transurethral_resection_of_the_prostate
Find a Qualified Specialist
Looking for a specialist?
Please enter your zip code.
