Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) is a surgery to remove a part or entire of the prostate gland through the penis. This surgery procedure does not require any incision.
Prostate gland is found in males only. It is present below the bladder, and wraps around the urethra. The urethra is a tube that carries urine out of the body. The function of the prostate gland is to produce semen.
While carrying out TURP surgery procedure, surgeons reach the prostate by inserting an instrument into the end of the penis, up the urethra. Medical instrument used here is known as a resectoscope, which is about 12 inches in length and 0.5 inch in diameter. It consists of a camera and valves that control irrigation of the fluids. It also contains a thin electrical wire loop that is responsible to cut tissues and seal blood vessels.
Surgeon guides the loop of wire to remove tissues blocking the urethra, one piece at a time. The irrigation fluid carries the pieces of the tissues down the bladder. These pieces are flushed out at the end of the procedure.
A TURP procedure is conducted to relieve symptoms caused by enlargement of the prostate gland. Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) leads to such enlargement. It is not a cancer disease but it tends to occur as you age. An enlarged prostate gland can press against the urethra and cause an interference or blockage in the urinary passageway.
Before performing TURP surgery, doctors explain the procedure of the surgery to the patients. There can be certain blood tests or urine tests conducted some days before the surgery. Your doctor will inform you about all the steps that you must follow before the surgery. For example, consuming food or water is not allowed for 8 hours before the surgery. If you have any other doubts, discuss them with your doctor.