Transurethral Resection of Prostate (TURP)
Transurethral resection of prostate, also referred to as TURP, is a procedure used for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), the enlargement of the prostate gland that results in urethral restriction causing difficulty in urination.
Condition it treats:
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
What happens during the procedure:
The transurethral resection of the prostate is a minimally invasive procedure performed in the hospital setting. It can be an outpatient procedure, or it may require a one-night stay at the hospital. The procedure uses a small resectoscope inserted through the urethra. The end of the resectoscope allows for a special loop trimming instrument to be attached. The loop trims, “resects,” and seals the prostate tissue. The surgeon will evaluate how much prostate tissue needs to be removed. When he or she is satisfied with the amount of prostate tissue that has been resected, a foley catheter is placed into the bladder to ensure the bladder is able to empty during the recovery period.
Recovery after the procedure:
After the surgery, the patient is observed in the recovery area, then prepared for discharge home. The foley catheter will be removed at the discretion of the doctor. It typically remains in place for 24 to 48 hours to help drain urine while the prostate heals. One can expect to be discharged from the hospital the day of surgery or the next day.
After surgery, one can anticipate mild discomfort including slight burning with urination, urgency, and frequency. One may notice a small amount of blood in the urine; this should not be cause for alarm as this is part of the healing process. Patients will notice improvements in the urinary symptoms gradually.
Men can expect to return to normal activity approximately 3 days after the TURP procedure. Patients should avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting or pushing, and avoid equipment that vibrates for about 2 weeks. These types of activities may aggravate the urogenital region and can cause bleeding.
Generally, men can resume normal sexual activity about 4 weeks after the surgery. Patients can experience a significant decrease in semen with ejaculation or a diminished volume. This is a result of retrograde ejaculation which occurs when semen is redirected into the urinary bladder, instead of the urethra. This should not affect sexual pleasure or orgasm.
