Prostate Enlargement BPH Surgical Treatment

TURP – Transurethral Resection Prostate

If you have been found to have an obstruction to the flow of urine due to an enlarged prostate your Urologist may have suggested you undergo an operation called a Transurethral Resection of Prostate (TURP) or more commonly known as a “re-bore”. The obstruction is due to the enlarged prostate compressing the urethra that passes through it carrying the urine from the bladder. The procedure involves passing a telescope down through the penis to the area where the prostate is bulging into the urethra and using electro-cautery, the obstructing prostate tissue is shaved off. This procedure therefore opens up the urethral channel and allows the urine to pass through more freely. The procedure itself is usually very straight forward. Your stay in Hospital will vary from 2 to 3 days depending on the size of your prostate.

This procedure has some specific potential complications but is an extremely common and routine operation.

Click here to read more about consent issues related to TURP.

Laser prostate surgery

Sometimes lasers are used to reduce the size of the prostate rather than electrocautery. In experienced hands, the outcomes of surgery are similar and it is often a personal preference as to which type of surgery is performed.

There are, however, some specific situations where laser treatment is preferable. If a patient is taking anticoagulants or blood thinning medication, and it is a risk to stop the medication, laser surgery is indicated. This is because there is usually far less bleeding with this type of procedure and it can generally be performed while a patient remains on the medication if necessary. In many cases, the stay in hospital is shorter and in some instances, patients may be discharged home the same day as the procedure.

A much newer procedure called UROLIFT is also suitable for some men. In this procedure, the prostate tissue is compressed, rather than removed, by a thread fired through the prostate tissue. The main advantage of this type of surgery is that it has a significantly lower risk of dry or retrograde ejaculation.

More information relating to TURP can be found in the consent section and in the video section of this website.