What is the prostate gland?

The prostate gland is a partly muscular and partly glandular organ, with ducts extending into the prostatic urethra. The prostate has three lobes and surrounds the bladder neck and urethra. The size of the gland is about the size of walnut.

Although scientists do not know all the functions of the prostate gland, it is known that the prostate plays an important role in the male reproductive system. The main function of the prostate gland is to produce a slightly alkaline fluid, which is part of the semen (sperm). During a male orgasm, the muscle glands of the prostate expel prostate fluid, in addition to sperm that has been produced in the testicles, into the urethra and then outward during ejaculation.

With age, the prostate gland grows in size, giving  man certain problems with urination. In addition, some disorders of the prostate gland can occur at any age and include:

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, prostate adenoma). BPH is the most common prostate problem in men over the age of 60, associated with age-related benign enlargement of the prostate gland. BPH symptoms progress slowly and include: difficulty urinating; frequent urination, especially at night; intermittent or weak flow of urine, etc. Although BPH does not belong to malignant neoplasms, its symptoms are often similar to prostate cancer.

Prostatitis  is a disease of the prostate gland of inflammatory or infectious nature, characterized by discomfort, pain, frequent or rare urination, and sometimes fever.

Prostatalgia. The main symptom is pain in the prostate gland, also called prostatodynia. It is often a symptom of prostatitis.

Prostate cancer is a common and serious health problem. According to the researchers, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men over 50, and the third leading cause of cancer death.

What is TUR?

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR) is a minimally invasive operation in which overgrown tissues of the prostate gland blocking free urination are removed. TUR does not require an incision of the skin; the intervention is performed, like cystoscopy through the urethra.

How is TUR carried out?

Before setting the date of the TUR, your doctor will explain to you the essence of the intervention and give you the opportunity to ask any questions.

Tell your doctor if you have nosebleeds, if you are taking anticoagulant medications, aspirin, or any other medications that affect blood clotting. You may need to stop taking these medicines a few days before your surgery.

Transurethral resection of the prostate is performed under general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia. During the operation, anesthesiologist will continuously monitor the heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and blood oxygen levels.

The operation begins with surgeon checking the urethra and bladder for tumors or stones with an endoscope. This is done by inserting an endoscope into the urethra and then into the bladder.

Next, surgeon - urologist, under visual control, passes a medical instrument called a resectoscope through the urethra to the prostate gland. Resectoscope is a thin tube about 12 cm long, equipped with a light source, a video camera, valves for supplying irrigation fluid and a "loop" through which, prostate tissue is removed and blood vessels coagulated.

After assessing the condition of the prostate tissue, urologist begins to excise "layer by layer" of prostate tissue. Resection and coagulation of bleeding vessels is performed using a metal loop, which is supplied with an alternating current of high frequency and power. The removed pieces are washed out with a liquid that is fed into the resectoscope. At the conclusion of the operation, urinary catheter is inserted into the bladder.

The urinary catheter usually remains in the bladder for one to three days. This is necessary to allow urine to drain and possibly flush out potential blood clots from the bladder. You will most likely see blood in your urine after surgery, which is normal after surgery. The bleeding will gradually decrease and the catheter will then be removed.

After the operation, if necessary, patient is taken to recovery room. After  blood pressure, pulse, and breathing is stabilized and sedatives are completely metabolized in the body, patient will be transferred to a regular room. Patient can get pain relievers as needed.