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Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Risks

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. It occurs in about 25 to 99 men out of 100.^{Reference 2} This does not affect sexual function.
Men who have TURP appear to have no greater risk for Reference erection problems Opens New Window than men who do not have surgery.^{Reference 3} For men who do have trouble getting an erection, medicine can help.

Loss of ability to control urine flow (incontinence)

A small number of men (about 1 out of 100) say they are completely unable to hold back their urine after the surgery.^{Reference 2} But some experts say that men who have TURP appear to have no greater risk for incontinence than men who do not have surgery.^{Reference 3}
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.^{Reference 4}
Transurethral resection (TUR) syndrome occurs in about 2 out of 100 men who have TURP.^{Reference 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 TUR syndrome include mental confusion, nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, slowed heartbeat, and visual disturbances. TUR 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 men out of 100 need to have another operation after 3 years. And about 8 men out of 100 need to have another operation after 5 years.^{Reference 2}
Repeat surgery because of a complication of the surgery is needed less than 10% of the time.^{Reference 2}

By:	Reference Healthwise Staff	Last Revised: March 5, 2012
Medical Review:	Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Reference J. Curtis Nickel, MD, FRCSC - Urology