TURP in Sharjah

What is TURP?

TURP, short for transurethral resection of the prostate, is a telescopic operation for benign prostatic enlargement. The surgeon passes a slim instrument called a resectoscope along the urethra and uses a fine wire loop, carrying an electrical current, to shave away the overgrown inner tissue that squeezes the urine channel. The same current seals small blood vessels as the surgeon works.

A useful way to picture TURP is coring an apple. The prostate sits like a ring around the urethra, and the operation hollows out the inner core that has grown inwards while the outer shell of the gland stays in place. TURP therefore reduces the prostate from the inside and leaves the gland itself where it is.

Every piece of tissue removed during TURP is collected and sent to the laboratory, so the operation also gives a detailed look at the prostate under the microscope. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, TURP is one of the options described on the prostate surgery page, and this page follows the operation itself.

Who needs it

TURP suits men whose urinary symptoms come from benign prostatic enlargement and have become troublesome enough to affect sleep, work or health. Typical reasons include a weak stream and straining that persist despite tablets, repeated episodes of urinary retention needing a catheter, recurrent urine infections, bladder stones, bleeding from the prostate, or back-pressure affecting the kidneys.

Many men start with lifestyle changes and medication, and TURP comes into the discussion when these give too little relief or when side effects make tablets hard to continue. For a very large gland, removing the enlarged tissue through an abdominal approach, described on the prostatectomy page, may suit better. The urologist weighs the size of your prostate, how well your bladder muscle still squeezes, your general health and your own priorities, including how much you value keeping normal ejaculation, and the decision is made with you.

What happens

Before surgery the urologist confirms that the prostate is the cause of your symptoms. The work-up usually includes a urine flow test, an ultrasound check of how much urine stays behind after you pass water, a PSA blood test and a prostate examination. Some men also have urodynamic testing to measure bladder pressure, or a cystoscopy to view the urethra and bladder.

TURP is done under spinal anaesthesia, which numbs you from the waist down, or under general anaesthesia. You lie on your back with your legs supported. The resectoscope is passed through the tip of the penis, so there is no wound on the skin. Sterile fluid flows through the instrument to give a clear view while the surgeon trims the tissue in small strips, which are then washed out of the bladder.

At the end, a catheter with three channels is placed. One channel drains urine and another runs a steady flow of sterile fluid into the bladder, washing out blood so that clots stay small. Nurses adjust this irrigation until the urine runs pale pink, and the catheter comes out once the urine is clear enough. You go home when you are passing urine comfortably.

Preparing for it

A pre-operative assessment checks your heart, lungs, blood count and kidney function, and a urine test confirms there is no active infection, which is treated first if found. Bring a full list of your medicines. Blood thinners and anti-platelet tablets each need a specific plan from your doctor, and you receive clear fasting instructions for the day of surgery.

Soften your bowel motions in the days before and after surgery with fruit, vegetables and fluids, because straining on the toilet puts pressure on the healing prostate. Arrange a lift home and some help for the first days. If surgery falls near Ramadan, raise it early so fasting, fluids and medicines can be planned together.

Afterwards

Stinging, a frequent urge to pass urine and some blood in the urine are normal early on, and they settle as the inside of the prostate heals. Drink water steadily through the day so the urine stays pale; in the Sharjah summer heat you will need more than usual to keep the bladder flushed. Avoid heavy lifting, straining and vigorous exercise until your urologist advises otherwise.

A short spell of fresh bleeding sometimes appears once the healing surface sheds its scab, and extra fluids usually clear it. Desk-based work usually resumes before driving jobs or manual work, and your urologist gives you a personal timeline. Men whose work involves heavy lifting follow a longer, phased plan.

Contact the hospital urgently if you pass clots, if the urine turns dark red and stays that way despite drinking more, or if you develop a fever or burning that worsens. **Go to the emergency department straight away if you cannot pass urine at all and your lower abdomen feels full and painful.**

Cost and insurance

Most UAE insurance plans cover TURP when it is medically needed, and pre-approval is almost always required. Insurers usually ask for the flow test results, the post-void residual measurement and a record of the medication already tried. The laboratory examination of the prostate tissue and any pre-operative urodynamic testing may need separate approval. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover and start the approval early on 06 599 7777.