What is a TURP?

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Transurethral resection of the prostate, better known as the TURP, is a type of surgical procedure targeting the prostate, whose goal is to relieve troublesome urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate.  These symptoms can include urinary frequency, nocturia, difficulty emptying, leaking, bladder stones, and blood in the urine. 

Enlarged Prostate

Enlargement of the prostate happens naturally as men age, but this process can unfortunately press onthe urethra and result in the annoying urinary side effectsmentioned.  Although an enlarged prostate cannot typically be avoided, the silver lining is that it is benign.  It is often referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or benign prostatic hypertrophy for this reason. The exact cause of BPH is not known, but it is thought that changes in the balance of the sex hormones during the aging process are the main contributing factor.

BPH Treatment Options

Treatment options available for BPH fall under medications and minimally-invasive surgical procedures.  Which treatment option is best for you, depends on the size of your prostate, your symptoms, your overall treatment goals, your age, and your overall health. If medications are not effective, or your prostate is too large for medication to make a sufficient difference, surgery to reduce the size of the prostate may be necessary.

What is a TURP?​

​Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), or the modified Button TURP, is a procedure to remove portions of prostate which press on the urethra, and block the normal flow of urinefrom the bladder.

During a TURP, a resectoscope, both visual and surgical instrument, is inserted through the tip of the penis and into the urethra, the tube that carries urine from your bladder. Using the resectoscope, the surgeon trims away excess prostate tissue that surrounds the urethra, and increases the size of the channel to allow you to empty your bladder.  A typical hospital stay is about one day with a two-three days of catheterization.

Option 2: GreenLight Laser

The other surgical procedure available, is the GreenLight Laser.  This minimally invasive procedure uses a high-powered laser combined with fiber optics to vaporize the overgrowth of prostate. This is usually quick and effective, as the heat of the laser simultaneously cauterizes blood vessels, resulting in minimal bleeding. Because this treatment is less aggressive than the regular TURP or Button TURP, it is reserved for patientswhose symptoms are less serious, or cannot handle the surgical risks of a traditional TURP.  It is typically an out-patient procedure that involves catheterization for about two days.  

Button TURP

  • Recently developed in the past few years
  • Creates the same prostatic channel as Standard TURP
  • Sustained effect on voiding possibly 10-15 years as the prostatic channel appears widely open as in Standard TURP
  • Faster ablation of large prostates which decreases anesthesia risks
  • Uses saline irrigation which causes no risk of seizures, no time limit to resect large prostates, almost no bleeding during the procedure
  • Usual transurethral irritative symptoms last for 4-6 weeks
  • Risk of erectile dysfunction, decreased sexual libido, and retrograde ejaculation is the same as the Standard TURP.
  • May or may not require an overnight stay.
  • Bladder catheter stays in place for 2-3 days
  • KTP Laser Photoselective Vaporization
  • AKA. Greenlight PVP, Laser TURP
  • One of several types of laser ablation of the prostate 
  • Creates a prostate channel like Standard TURP, but usually takes much longer for larger prostates
  • Sustained effect on voiding possibly 10-15 years as the prostatic channel appears widely open as in Standard TURP
  • Uses saline irrigation which causes no risk of seizures, no time limit to resect large prostates, almost no bleeding during the procedure
  • Usual transurethral irritative symptoms last for 4-6 weeks
  • Risk of erectile dysfunction, decreased sexual libido, retrograde ejaculation is the same as the Standard TURP.
  • May or may not require an overnight stay.
  • Bladder catheter stays in place for 2-3 days