HWN Suggests

The changing practice of transurethral resection of the prostate

In an attempt to delay or avoid TURP surgery and its complications, alternative pharmacological treatments (eg 5α-reductase inhibitors and α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists) have become increasingly popular...

The development of less invasive surgical procedures such as transurethral needle ablation, transurethral microwave thermotherapy and high intensity focused ultrasonography failed to replace the classic monopolar TURP owing to poorer patient outcomes.

Since the introduction of these alternative treatments, the number of TURPs performed has declined, both in the US and across Europe...

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Articles of Interest

Is There an Alternative to TURP?

First performed in 2009 by Professor Pisco in Portugal, this new procedure shrinks an enlarged prostate by non-surgically blocking the arteries that feed the gland. An interventional radiologist, rather than a surgeon, performs the procedure through a pinhole in the groin.

Laser surgery for an enlarged prostate is no more effective than standard surgery

Although previous research suggested that the laser procedure would lead to fewer complications and a reduced hospital stay compared to TURP, this was not seen in the study. The new findings from Bristol suggest hospitals who already perform TURP do not necessarily need to invest in equipment and training for the ThuVARP laser procedure. Patients can be reassured that either surgical option is safe and effective.

Vaporization Challenges TURP as Gold Standard for BPH

There’s still traditional transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)—long the “gold standard” for symptom relief. But now, instead of chipping away at the prostate, says urologist Stephen Schatz, “we are doing far more procedures using either bipolar electrosurgical vaporization or laser vaporization techniques.

Resources

Healthily

A common disadvantage is that men lose the ability to ejaculate semen out of their penis during sex or masturbation, although they still have the physical pleasure associated with ejaculation (the climax). This is known as retrograde ejaculation and can occur in as many as nine out of 10 cases.

NHS

The catheter used during the operation will usually be taken out between 1 day and 1 week afterwards.

ScienceDirect

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has traditionally been the gold standard for comparison of treatments for BPH. TURP is associated with durable significant relief of symptoms and increase in flow rates with excellent 10-year results including low reoperation rates.

StatPearls

With advances in medical equipment, patients can have resection of a TURP with a bipolar element or a laser fiber. The bipolar TURP has been around for many years and allows quick resection of large prostates on select patients that are not on anticoagulation. This technique also allows for pathologic review of the prostatic chips to look for incidentally found prostate cancer.