×
A. This operation involves the telescopic removal or incision of the obstructing, central part of the prostate with heat diathermy and temporary insertion of a catheter for bladder irrigation.
A. Find below all the alternatives:
A. If you are taking blood thinning medication on a regular basis, you must discuss this with your urologist because these drugs can cause increased bleeding after surgery. There may be a balance of risk where stopping them will reduce the chances of bleeding but this can result in increased clotting, which may also carry a risk to your health. This will, therefore, need careful discussion with regard to risks and benefits. Aspirin does not usually need to be stopped but will be the decision of your surgeon.
You will usually be admitted on the same day as your surgery, or a day before. You will normally undergo pre assessment on the day of your clinic. After admission, you will be seen by members of the medical team which may include the consultant, junior urology doctors and nurse.
You will be asked not to eat or drink for six hours before surgery and, immediately before the operation, you may be given a pre-medication by the anaesthetist which will make you dry-mouthed and pleasantly sleepy.
Please be sure to inform your urologist in advance of your surgery if you have any of the following:
A. Either a full general anaesthetic (where you will be asleep throughout the procedure) or a spinal anaesthetic (where you are awake but unable to feel anything from the waist down) will be used. All methods minimise pain; your anaesthetist will explain the pros and cons of each type of anaesthetic to you.
A telescope is passed into the bladder and the central part of the prostate removed piecemeal using heat diathermy. The prostate fragments are evacuated using suction and sent for pathological analysis. A catheter is usually inserted after the procedure.
The procedure takes 45 to 60 minutes.
You will usually be given injectable antibiotics before the procedure, after checking for any allergies.
A. There is always some bleeding from the prostate area after the operation. The urine is usually clear of blood after 48 hours, although some patients lose more blood for longer. It is very rare to require a blood transfusion after surgery.
A. The catheter is generally removed after four to seven days following which urine can be passed in the normal way. At first, it may be painful to pass your urine and it may come more frequently than normal. Any initial discomfort can be relieved by tablets or injections and the frequency usually improves within a few days.
It is not unusual for your urine to turn bloody again for the first 24 to 48 hours after catheter removal. A few patients are unable to pass urine at all after the operation. If this should happen, we normally pass a catheter again to allow the bladder to regain its function before trying again without the catheter.
A. The average hospital stay is usually 36 to 48 hours.
A. Most procedures have a potential for side effects. Although all these complications are well recognised, the majority of patients do not suffer any problems after a urological procedure.
Common (greater than one in 10)
Occasional (between one in 10 and one in 50)
Rare (less than 1 in 50)
A. When you leave hospital, you will be given a discharge summary of your admission. This holds important information about your inpatient stay and your operation.
Most patients feel tired and below par for a week or two because this is major surgery. Over this period, any frequency usually settles gradually.
A. If you experience increasing frequency, burning or difficulty on passing urine or worrying bleeding, contact your urologist.
About one man in five experiences bleeding some 10 to 14 days after getting home; this is due to scabs separating from the cavity of the prostate. Increasing your fluid intake should stop this bleeding quickly but, if it does not, you should contact your urologist who will prescribe some antibiotics for you. In the event of severe bleeding, passage of clots or sudden difficulty in passing urine, you should contact your urologist immediately since it may be necessary for you to be re-admitted to hospital.
A. Removal of your prostate may affect your sex life. It is often helpful to start pelvic floor exercises as soon as possible after the operation since this can improve your control when you get home.
It will be at least 7 to 14 days before the pathology results on the tissue removed are available.
A. The symptoms of an overactive bladder may take three months to resolve whereas the flow is improved immediately. Sexual activity can be resumed as soon as you are comfortable, usually after three to four weeks.
Most patients require a recovery period of two to three weeks at home before they feel ready for work. We recommend three to four weeks rest before resuming any job, especially if it is physically strenuous and you should avoid any heavy lifting during this time.