What Does a Prostate Resection Involve?

The prostate is a small gland found in the groin that’s responsible for providing the body with seminal fluid, which helps sperm travel and keeps it viable in its journey to the egg during fertilization. Anatomically speaking, the prostate has six main surfaces: the apex, base, an anterior, a posterior, as well as two lateral surfaces.

While there are a number of malignant conditions that could befall the prostate, such as cancer, there are also benign conditions that may develop, such as enlargement. Benign prostate enlargement (BPH) is common in aging men, and while it may cause a variety of uncomfortable urinary symptoms, it could also lead to urinary tract, bladder, or even kidney issues as well.

BPH is often caused by the continuous prostatic growth that men naturally experience throughout their lifetimes; this continued growth can cause the prostate to block urine flow, leading to symptoms. The condition may also be caused by changes in sex hormones.

The good news is that there are a variety of treatments available for BPH today, including the minimally invasive prostate resection. This surgical procedure’s goal is to remove part of the prostate in order to improve the flow of urine through the urethra; it involves no incision in the skin, and can be performed under various types of anesthesia (you may be awake or asleep during the procedure). There are a variety of different ways to carry out a prostate resection:

• Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA): during this procedure, the surgeon inserts needles into your prostates and heats the needles and prostate tissue using ultrasound waves. You may need a catheter to drain urine for a few days following the procedure.
• Laser prostatectomy: for this 1-2 hour long procedure, a specialist uses a laser to destroy the prostate tissue that’s blocking the urethral opening. While you’ll likely go home day of, you may need a catheter for a few days afterwards.
• Transurethral electrovaporization (TUVP): during a TUVP, an instrument destroys prostate tissue using a strong electrical current and a catheter will be placed in your bladder, which may be removed within hours.
• Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT): during this procedure, a microwave antenna is inserted through the urethra, harnessing microwave pulses to destroy prostate tissue. Again, you may need a catheter for a few days following.
• Transurethral incision (TUIP): during this 20-30 minute procedure, a surgeon will make small incisions where the prostate and bladder meet, widening the urethra. While it’s likely you’ll go home the same day, full recovery can take up to 3 weeks, and you may need a catheter for a bit afterwards.

An Ezra scan may find cancerous and other actionable states in the prostate; you may follow this link for more information on our pricing plans.