Transurethral Prostatectomy

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A transurethral (trans-u-REETH-rull) prostatectomy (prah-stuh-TEK-tuh-mee) may also be called a transurethral resection of the prostate, or "TURP". This is surgery to remove or freeze part of your prostate (PRAH-stat) gland. "Transurethral" means through the urethra. Your urethra is the tube inside you that drains urine from your bladder to the outside of your body. Caregivers will not have to make incisions (cuts) to remove or freeze your prostate. It will be taken out through your urethra. You may need this surgery if your prostate has gotten too big, or for other problems.
  
  
• The prostate is a male sex gland that is normally about the size of a walnut. It is located in your pelvis, near your bladder (the organ where urine is held). The prostate gland makes semen. Semen is the fluid that comes out of your penis during an orgasm (OR-gaz-um).

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• There are always risks with surgery. You may bleed more than usual, get an infection (in-FECK-shun), have trouble breathing, or get blood clots. Caregivers will watch you closely and treat these problems.
  
  
• You may have problems having sex up to two years after surgery. You may have trouble controlling your urine up to a year after surgery. You may have other problems with your bladder, or problems having bowel movements. If you have cancer, removing or freezing your prostate may not cure it.
  
  
• If you do not have surgery, your prostate may get too big and, it may be hard to urinate. If you have cancer of the prostate and do not have surgery, the cancer may spread. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your medicine or care.

GETTING READY:

The Week Before Surgery:

• Ask your caregiver if you need to stop taking aspirin or any other blood thinning medicines before your procedure.
  
  
• Tell your caregiver about any over-the-counter medicines you are taking such as vitamins, herbs, food supplements, or laxatives. These medicines may not work with medicines you may need during surgery.
  
  
• You may need blood tests before your procedure. Talk to your caregiver about these or other tests you may need. Write down the date, time and location for each test.
  
  
• You may need urine tests before your procedure. Talk to your caregiver about these or other tests you may need. Write down the date, time and location for each test.
  
  
• Take antibiotic (an-ti-bi-AH-tik) medicine before surgery if given to you by your caregiver.

The Day Before Surgery:

• Caregivers may give you medicine to take the night before surgery to help you sleep.
  
  
• You may need to completely empty your bowels of BM before surgery. You may be given special liquids to drink, or medicines to take that will do this.
  
  
• Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking.

The Day of Surgery:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your surgery.
  
  
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing to the hospital.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver before taking any medicine on the day of surgery. These medicines include insulin, diabetic pills, high blood pressure pills, or heart pills. Bring a list of your medicines or the pill bottles with you to the hospital.
  
  
• Do not wear contact lenses the day of surgery. You may wear your glasses.
  
  
• Bring your personal belongings (bathrobe, toothbrush, hairbrush, and slippers) with you to the hospital. Do not wear jewelry or bring money or important personal papers to the hospital.
  
  
• An anesthesiologist (an-iss-thee-z-ALL-o-jist) will talk to you before your surgery. This is the caregiver who gives you medicine before and during surgery. This medicine helps you to not feel or remember the surgery.
  
  
• Informed consent: You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.

TREATMENT:

What Will Happen:

• You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. You may be given medicine in your IV to help you relax or make you sleepy. You will be taken on a cart to the operating room. Caregivers may put medicine into your urethra that will make your penis numb (without feeling). You may get medicine called regional anesthesia (an-iss-THEE-zuh) that will numb you below the waist. You may get general anesthesia so that you will be completely asleep. You and your caregiver will decide which type of anesthesia is best for you. You will lie on your back with a sheet covering you during surgery. The area where your upper legs meet your abdomen will be cleaned with soap and water. This soap may make your skin yellow, but it will be cleaned off later.
  
  
• Special fluids may be run through your bladder during surgery. This helps stop blood clots from forming. Caregivers may put a resectoscope (re-SECT-uh-scope) into your urethra. This is a long, thin device with a small loop on the end. It is put in until it reaches your prostate. Caregivers will freeze or remove part of your prostate a little at a time. Prostate tissue may be sent to the lab for tests.

After Surgery: You will be taken to a recovery room where caregivers can watch you very closely. You will be there until you wake up and caregivers can make sure that you are OK. Then you will be taken to your hospital room. You may be able to go home the same day of surgery or the day after. If there are problems you may have to stay in the hospital longer. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is OK.

Waiting Room: This is a room where your family can wait until you are ready for visitors after surgery. Your doctor or nurse will find them and tell them how your surgery went. If your family leaves the hospital, ask them to leave a phone number where they can be reached.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have a fever (increased body temperature).
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your surgery.
  
  
• The problems for which you are having the prostatectomy get worse.
  
  
• You cannot make it to your surgery appointment on time.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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