Page 1 - Trans-urethral Resection of the Prostate
P. 1

Urological Health

                                 Transurethral resection
                                 of the prostate (TURP)







        Transurethral resection of the prostate involves the surgical removal of part of the enlarged
        prostate to facilitate urination.


           he prostate is a small gland, normally the size of     The risk of bleeding is increased in patients taking
        Ta chestnut, surrounding a man’s urethra (“urinary        blood thinners, aspirin, some arthritis medications,
        tube”), between the bladder and the control muscle        or many herbal supplements. These drugs normally
        (external sphincter).                                     should be stopped prior to surgery. Please discuss this
                                                                  with your doctor.
                  Anatomy of prostate, side view
                                                                  Your surgery

                                                                  Most patients are admitted to hospital on the day of
                                           bladder                surgery. Your anaesthesiologist will have discussed the
                                                                  various options for preventing you from experiencing
                                                                  pain during the surgery, usually either by spinal
                                                                  anaesthetic (“freezing” you from the waist down
                                                                  with a needle in the back) or by general anaesthetic
                                           prostate               (putting you to sleep).

                                                                  This operation is performed with an instrument called
                                           external               a resectoscope, passed through the urethra. No
                                           sphincter              skin incision is required. The prostate core causing
                                           urethra                obstruction is removed. The entire procedure usually
                                           penis                  takes 1 to 2 hours.  In some hospitals, this may be done
                                                                  with a laser to remove part of the enlarged prostate.
                                                                  At the end of the operation, a catheter (drainage
        With age, the prostate often increases in size and        tube) is passed through the penis into the bladder.
        compresses the urethra making it more difficult for the   A water solution may be used to flush the bladder to
        bladder to empty. Your voiding (urinating) difficulty     wash out any blood.
        has been determined to be due to obstruction by
        the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH).       All of the tissue removed at surgery is carefully
        After discussion and consideration of all the factors in   examined to determine its precise nature. This
        your case, you and your urologist have decided that       procedure does not affect the risk of developing
        prostate surgery is the best option for you.              prostate cancer.

        Most men can be treated safely and effectively by                       Anatomy of prostate
        coring out the inner prostate with a special instrument                 before and after TURP
        placed through the penis: trans-urethral resection of
        the prostate, or TURP. This removes the obstruction,
        allowing the urine to flow more freely and the bladder                       bladder
        to empty more completely.                                                    prostate
                                                                                     resected
        Before your operation                                                        prostate
        Your surgery will be performed at the hospital. You                          external
        will be contacted and given instructions concerning                          sphincter
        the time, date and location of the procedure                                 urethra
        and any necessary preoperative investigations.
        An anaesthesiologist may also meet with you                       BEFORE                     AFTER
        preoperatively to discuss the best way to keep you
        comfortable during surgery.
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