Transurethral Resection of Prostate (TURP)
What is TURP?
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) is a surgical procedure to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common condition in older men where the prostate enlarges and obstructs urine flow. TURP removes part of the prostate through the urethra, improving urinary symptoms. In India, TURP is performed in urology departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need TURP?
TURP is indicated for:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH):
- Moderate to severe urinary symptoms: Weak stream, urgency, frequent urination (day/night), or incomplete emptying.
- Complications: Recurrent UTIs, bladder stones, hematuria, or urinary retention (10–20% of untreated BPH cases).
- Prevalence in India: 50–60% of men over 60 years; 80% over 80 years.
- Contraindications:
- Very large prostate (>80–100 grams; may need open prostatectomy, as in your prostatectomy query).
- Active UTI (must be treated first) or severe comorbidities (e.g., uncontrolled bleeding disorders).
- Associated treatments:
- Pre-op: Alpha-blockers (e.g., tamsulosin) or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (e.g., finasteride) often tried first.
- Post-op: Catheter for 1–3 days to drain urine; bladder irrigation to prevent clots.
- Timing:
- Performed in older adults (average age 60–80 years); elective unless complications like retention occur.
The procedure aims to relieve urinary obstruction, improve quality of life, and prevent complications like kidney damage or infections, with a high success rate for symptom relief.
Why Do TURP Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh:
- Procedure Type: Monopolar (₹50,000–₹1 lakh); bipolar (₹1–2 lakh, safer).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹1–2 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹20,000–₹50,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced urologists charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹5,000–₹15,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹15,000/day), pathology (₹2,000–₹5,000), medications (₹5,000–₹10,000).
- Insurance: Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider.
TURP Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Assessment:
- Symptom score: International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) to quantify severity (moderate: 8–19; severe: 20–35).
- Uroflowmetry: Measures urine flow rate (<10 mL/s indicates obstruction).
- Ultrasound: Assesses prostate size (usually 30–80 grams for TURP), post-void residual urine.
- Blood tests: PSA (to rule out cancer), kidney function (creatinine), blood sugar, clotting profile.
- Urine test: Checks for infection (UTI treated pre-op).
- Preparation: Stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin) 5–7 days prior if safe; antibiotics pre-op.
- Consent: Risks, including retrograde ejaculation, are explained.
- Assessment:
- Surgical Technique:
- TURP:
- Performed under spinal or general anesthesia, lasting 60–90 minutes.
- Process:
- Resectoscope (thin tube with camera, light, and cutting loop) inserted through urethra (no external incision).
- Prostate tissue obstructing urethra (transition zone) removed in small pieces using electrocautery (cuts and coagulates).
- Tissue chips flushed out with irrigation fluid (glycine or saline); sent for pathology to rule out cancer.
- Hemostasis ensured; catheter placed with continuous bladder irrigation to prevent clot formation.
- Types:
- Monopolar TURP: Traditional; uses glycine irrigation (risk of TUR syndrome).
- Bipolar TURP: Newer; uses saline irrigation (safer, lower risk of TUR syndrome).
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Resectoscope: Visualizes and resects prostate tissue.
- Electrocautery loop: Cuts tissue and controls bleeding.
- Irrigation system: Clears debris and prevents clots.
- TURP:
- After Surgery:
- Hospital stay: 2–3 days.
- Care: Catheter removed in 1–3 days; irrigation stopped once urine clears (1–2 days); hydrate well.
- Pain management: Mild discomfort (urethral irritation) for 3–5 days; managed with painkillers (e.g., paracetamol).
- Instructions: Avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks; expect temporary urinary urgency or leakage.
Recovery After TURP
- Hospital Stay: 2–3 days.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Discomfort: Mild burning or urgency during urination for 1–2 weeks; resolves in 4–6 weeks.
- Urine: Blood-tinged urine for 1–2 weeks; clears with hydration; small clots normal initially.
- Activity: Avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks; light activities in 3–5 days.
- Catheter: Removed in 1–3 days; temporary leakage or urgency common for 2–4 weeks.
- Sexual function: Retrograde ejaculation (70–90% of cases); erectile function usually unchanged.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (check healing), 1 month, and 3 months (assess symptoms).
- Uroflowmetry: At 1–3 months to confirm improved flow (typically >15 mL/s post-TURP).
Most resume normal activities in 2–3 weeks; full symptom relief takes 6–12 weeks. Success rate: 85–90% experience significant symptom improvement; 10–15% may need re-treatment within 5–10 years.
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Bleeding (2–5%): Clots in bladder; may need irrigation or reoperation (<1%).
- Infection (2–5%): UTI; treated with antibiotics.
- Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to anesthesia; rare in healthy patients.
- Post-Surgery:
- Retrograde ejaculation (70–90%): Semen enters bladder (dry orgasm); not harmful but affects fertility.
- Urinary incontinence (1–5%): Temporary leakage; resolves in 3–6 months; permanent in <1%.
- TUR syndrome (1–2%, monopolar): Fluid absorption causing hyponatremia; rare with bipolar TURP.
- Urethral stricture (2–5%): Narrowing; may need dilation.
- Long-Term:
- Recurrence of symptoms (10–15%): Prostate regrowth over 5–10 years; may need repeat TURP.
- Erectile dysfunction (5–10%): Rare; usually pre-existing or psychological.
Report fever, heavy bleeding, inability to urinate, or severe pain promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes the need for TURP?
BPH causing moderate to severe urinary symptoms, retention, or complications (e.g., UTIs, stones).
Can I avoid TURP?
Yes, if mild: Medications (e.g., tamsulosin, finasteride) or minimally invasive options (e.g., UroLift); TURP needed for severe cases or complications.
Is TURP painful?
Mild discomfort for 1–2 weeks (urethral irritation); managed with medication; resolves in 4–6 weeks.
How soon can I resume normal activities?
Light activities: 3–5 days; full recovery: 6–12 weeks; avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks.
Is TURP covered by insurance in India?
Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider; Ayushman Bharat often subsidizes.
Signs of complications?
Fever, heavy bleeding, inability to urinate, or severe pain.
Will TURP affect my sexual function?
Retrograde ejaculation in 70–90% (dry orgasm); erectile function usually unchanged; fertility impacted.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Hydrate well, avoid straining during urination, monitor for recurrence, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
TURP is a highly effective procedure for treating BPH, offering significant symptom relief with a manageable recovery period. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult a urologist for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for TURP
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Ahmedabad |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ajmer |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Aligarh |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Allahabad |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Amritsar |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Aurangabad |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bangalore |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bareilly |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Belgaum |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bhopal |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bikaner |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Chandigarh |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Chennai |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Coimbatore |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Dehradun |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Delhi |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Dhanbad |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Durgapur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Faridabad |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ghaziabad |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Gorakhpur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Guntur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Gurgaon |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Guwahati |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Gwalior |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Hyderabad |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Indore |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jabalpur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Jaipur |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Jalandhar |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jamshedpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jodhpur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
kanpur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Kochi |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Kolkata |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Kollam |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Lucknow |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ludhiana |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Madurai |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Mangalore |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Meerut |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Moradabad |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Mumbai |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Mysore |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Nagpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Nashik |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Noida |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Patna |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Pune |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Raipur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Rajkot |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ranchi |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Surat |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Thane |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Vadodara |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Varanasi |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.