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BPH symptom relief
Your doctor may suggest transurethral resection of the prostate if you have moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms caused by BPH, such as:
- Difficulty urinating
- Frequent need to urinate
- Urgent need to urinate
- Increased frequency of urination at night
TURP helps reduce lower urinary tract symptoms in most men with BPH. It produces the greatest symptom relief in men who have larger prostate glands and more bothersome symptoms. Even men with severe bladder damage caused by BPH often improve after TURP.
Treatment of BPH complications
TURP may be necessary if BPH is causing complications, such as bladder stones or kidney damage from urine retention.
Prostate cancer symptom relief
If you've been diagnosed with prostate cancer, your doctor may recommend TURP to relieve symptoms caused by a tumor before you undergo other cancer treatment. TURP may also be appropriate if having your prostate gland removed (radical prostatectomy) isn't an option due to age or illness.
- Burnett AL, et al. Benign prostatic hyperplasia in primary care: What you need to know. Journal of Urology. 2006;175:S19.
- Understanding prostate changes: A health guide for men. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understanding-prostate-changes. Accessed March 24, 2009.
- Prostate enlargement: Benign prostatic hyperplasia. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/prostateenlargement/. Accessed March 24, 2009.
- Kim HL, et al. Benign prostatic hyperplasia. In: Brunicardi CF, et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=818980. Accessed March 24, 2009.
- Cunningham GR. Surgical and other invasive therapies of benign prostatic hyperplasia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 24, 2009.
- Prostate cancer treatment: Treatment option overview. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/prostate/Patient/page4. March 24, 2009.
- Morgan GE, et al. Anesthesia for genitourinary surgery. In: Morgan GE, et al. Clinical Anesthesiology. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=893115. Accessed March 24, 2009.
