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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