TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate) Surgery

What happens during a TURP surgery?

Diagnosis for BPH

Before surgery, your urologist will likely perform a series of simple tests and diagnostics to assess your overall health and uncover any underlying medical conditions you may have that could pose risk of complications either during or after surgery. It is likely that your urologist will also ask you about your medical and surgical history. It is important to answer these questions as best as you can. To get a better understanding of your condition however, the urologist will likely perform some diagnostic tests such as: 

• Physical rectal examination: To get a better understanding of your condition, your urologist will probably perform a physical examination of your prostate gland. During the rectal examination, the urologist will insert a gloved finger into your rectum to physically feel the shape and size of your prostate gland. 
• Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA) test: The urologist will likely perform a PSA test as well to analyse and determine the PSA levels in your blood. If PSA levels in your blood are more than 2.5 ng/mL, you are likely to have some degree of prostate enlargement. 
• Urine analysis: Urine analysis is a series of simple and common tests that may be performed by your urologist to assess different aspects of your overall health. This may also be performed to uncover any other medical conditions you may have such as diabetes, kidney disease or Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). 
• Urodynamics: To evaluate the overall functioning of your urinary bladder and urethra, your urologist may perform some simple tests. These tests will let your urologist know if you have weak bladder muscles or some abnormalities in your urethra that could be causing blockage of urine. 
• Transrectal ultrasound: A transrectal ultrasound test will allow your urologist to visualise and accurately determine the shape and size of your prostate. 

During a TURP surgery

A TURP surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that takes about 60-90 minutes to complete. Depending on your overall health and preference of your surgeon, the procedure will either be performed under general anaesthesia meaning you will be asleep throughout the procedure or spinal anaesthesia in which you will remain conscious throughout the procedure but parts of your body will become temporarily numb. The procedure will only begin once you are completely sedated. 

A TURP surgery usually begins by inserting a thin, tube-like instrument with a surgical tool attached to one end of it into the opening at the tip of your penis. This surgical device is called a resectoscope and the surgeon will use it to cut or remove pieces of enlarged prostate tissue. Once the resectoscope has entered the urethra through your penis, the surgeon will slowly make their way to the prostate gland and use the surgical tool attached at the other end of the resectoscope to slowly cut away pieces of enlarged prostate tissue that are blocking the urethra. A small amount of electricity will also be passed through the resectoscope to stop any bleeding.  The pieces of prostate tissue start to accumulate in the bladder but will be removed later on through the urethra. Once the pressure that was being exerted on the urethra is reduced, the resectoscope is removed and you will be moved to a recovery area. 

After the procedure, it is likely that you will need to spend 1-3 days at the hospital and be kept under observation by your urologist and nurses. Due to the procedure, you will likely have some swelling in your urethra as well that would cause difficulty in urinating. To help with that, the urologist may insert a catheter into your urethra to allow for urine to pass. Once the swelling has subsided and you are able to urinate on your own, the catheter will be removed.