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Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
The risks of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) include problems with sexual performance, incontinence, and problems from surgery.
Problems with sexual performance
- Ejaculation into the bladder (retrograde ejaculation) is very common, occurring in about 25 to 99 men out of 100.2 This does not affect sexual function.
- Erection problems may develop in men who did not have problems before the procedure. The risk of this may depend on how sexual performance is defined and measured, how sexually active the man was before the surgery, and how old he is. Many men in the age group who are likely to have BPH also have some problems with getting an erection. Subsequent erection problems are reported by about 3 to 35 men out of 100.2 Medicine can help some men achieve an erection after they have had TURP.
Loss of ability to control urine flow (incontinence)
- A small number of men (about 1%) say they are completely unable to hold back their urine after the surgery.2
- Some men find that they can still hold in their urine after the surgery, but they tend to leak or dribble.
Problems related to having surgery
- About 5 out of 100 men have severe bleeding and need a blood transfusion.3
- TURP syndrome occurs in about 2 out of 100 men who have TURP.2 This syndrome occurs when the body absorbs too much of the fluid used to wash the area around the prostate while prostate tissue is being removed. The symptoms of TURP syndrome include mental confusion, nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, slowed heartbeat, and visual disturbances. TURP syndrome is temporary (usually lasting only the first 6 hours after surgery) and is treated with medicine that removes excess water from the body (diuretic).
- About 2 or 3 men out of 100 need to have another operation after 3 years.2
- Repeat surgery because of a complication of the surgery is needed less than 10% of the time.2
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: March 23, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology | |
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