Transurethral Resection Of The Prostate Care

Your doctor may do the following:

• Physical exam
• Review of medicines and supplements
• Blood tests, urine tests, and a urine culture
• Ultrasound -a test that uses sound waves to visualize the kidney, bladder, and/or prostate
• Urine flow studies
• X-rays

• Talk to your doctor about your medicines. You may be asked to stop taking some medicines up to one week before the procedure like:
  • Aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Blood thinners, such as clopidogrel (Plavix) or warfarin (Coumadin)
• The night before, eat a light dinner. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.

TURP requires general or spinal anesthesia . General will make you sleep. Spinal will make your lower body numb.

Your doctor will use a special scope that looks like a thin tube with a light on the end. This scope is put into the hole at the tip of your penis where urine comes out. The bladder will then be filled with a solution. The solution will let the doctor see the inside of your body better. The prostate gland is examined through the scope. A small surgical tool will be inserted through the scope. The tool will be used to remove a part of the enlarged prostate. A catheter (tube) will be left in the bladder to allow for urine flow after the procedure. It may also be used to flush the bladder and to remove blood clots.

Removed tissue will be sent to a lab for testing.

About 60-90 minutes

For several days after the surgery, you may feel some pain. The catheter may also cause some discomfort. Talk to your doctor about medicine to help you manage pain.

An overnight stay is typically planned for a TURP. In some cases, the stay can be up to 2 days.

• There will be a catheter in your bladder to drain urine. The catheter is left in place overnight. The urine may be bloody, but do not be alarmed. This is normal. Water may be flushed through the catheter into your bladder to wash out blood and clots.
• Always keep the catheter drainage bag below the level of your bladder.
• Do breathing and coughing exercises regularly.
• Rest in bed until the next morning. The nurse can help you the first time you get out of bed.

When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:

• Clean the area where the catheter enters the urethra several times a day. Use soap, water, and a washcloth.
• Drink lots of fluids, especially during the day. This will help to flush your bladder.
• Avoid heavy lifting or exertion for 3-4 weeks.
• Avoid sexual activity for 4-6 weeks after surgery.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods.
• Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions .

Recovery from surgery should take about three weeks. Symptoms such as frequent or painful urination may continue for a while. They should lessen in the first six weeks. If there is blood in your urine, lie down, and drink a glass or two of fluid. The next time you urinate the bleeding should stop. If it does not, call your doctor.

The surgery should not affect your sex drive or ability to have sex. Retrograde ejaculation is likely to occur. This is when semen enters the bladder instead of exiting the body. This should not be relied on as birth control.