Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (1)
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate, known as TURP can relieve the following symptoms:
- Slowness in starting
- Poor stream
- Dribbling at the end of passing urine
- Getting up at night to pass urine
- Blood in the urine
- Urinary leakage when coughing or sneezing
- Difficulty in getting to the toilet in time when the desire to go occurs
- Complete stoppage of urine.
The procedure is usually carried out under general anaesthesia and is ideal for flow issues stemming from prostate cancer or benign prostate enlargement.
TURP is carried out with an endoscopic instrument passed up through the opening of the penis and the centre of the prostate gland is removed. It is important to note that the prostate is not completely removed and occasionally symptoms recur as the result of either scar tissue, regrowth of prostate tissue or the development of prostate cancer.
Side Effects
- Approximately 80% of men will find that at the time of ejaculation no sperm comes out. They get much the same feeling but it is a so-called dry ejaculation. This is because a portion of the prostate has been removed and the muscle controlling ejaculation is affected by the surgery. The sperm usually passes out when the man empties his bladder.
This is not harmful. It reduces ability to become a father and is not a guaranteed method of contraception. - Generally a man's potency (ability to get and hold an erection) is the same after the operation as it was before. Only five to 10% of men may have more difficult getting erections after the operation and many treatments available for this.
- Occasionally after the operation urination may become urgent after catheter removal. This usually settles down within the first 24 to 48 hours.
- In some patients, thickening of the healing tissue occurs and this can narrow the opening to the bladder. In such cases, it may be necessary to make a further cut in that scar tissue at a later date. This only occurs in approximately three percent of patients.
TURPS can be carried out in day surgery or as an inpatient.
Key aspects
From diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and research, I believe my highly experienced team and I bring a multifaceted approach to understanding and helping our patients. A summary of these key aspects of that approach is available here in PDF format. If you are suffering from prostate cancer or have reason to believe you might be, you are welcome to contact us or, intially, complete our comprehensive second opinion form.
