Urology Specialties, Conditions, Treatments & Technology

Prostate surgery is usually performed under general anaesthesia, which means that you will be asleep during the procedure. However, for some men, epidural or spinal anaesthesia is preferable. This completely blocks the feeling in your pelvis and legs, but you will still be awake. Your surgeon and anaesthetist will discuss which type of anaesthesia is most suitable for you.

TURP typically involves a hospital stay of up to four days. Your physician will explain the benefits and risks of having transurethral resection surgery, and will also discuss the alternatives to the procedure.

Your physician will use a thin, tube-like telescope that has specially adapted surgical instruments called a resectoscope, that is inserted into the opening of your penis and passed up the urethra towards the prostate.

An attachment at the end of the resectoscope is used to cut away part of the prostate, using a tiny loop of wire carrying an electric current. Your physician uses the same instrument, with a different type of electric current, to stop any bleeding. There are no stitches or dressings after this operation.

During the procedure the bladder is flushed with sterile fluid to remove the pieces of prostate tissue. Afterwards, a catheter is inserted to allow urine to flow freely. It consists of two or three sections that allow fluid to pass in and out of the bladder at the same time. The operation lasts for about an hour.