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Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) - Surgery
If you have difficulty urinating because of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), you probably will not need surgery unless you:
- Cannot urinate. About half of the men who cannot urinate need catheterization. In catheterization, a tube is passed up the penis into the bladder and urine is drained. Half of these men will be able to urinate again after catheterization. Those who do not improve may need surgery.
- Have a partial blockage in your urethra that is causing repeated urinary tract infections, bladder stones, or bladder damage.
- Have blood in your urine that is not getting better.
- Have kidney damage.
If you have no complications but have symptoms that bother you or if other treatment has not worked, you may choose to have surgery. In this case, consider:
- How much you expect the surgery to improve your symptoms.
- How severe your symptoms are.
- How you feel about the risk of developing a complication because of the surgery.
For more information on this decision, see:
Surgery Choices
Surgery that does not require an incision through the skin is usually used. The surgical instruments are passed up the urinary opening in the penis to the location of the prostate. This is described as a transurethral surgery of the prostate.
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia that has been studied the most. It is the surgery that is used the most to treat symptoms of BPH. All other surgeries are compared to TURP. In TURP, part of the prostate is removed.
Some of the other surgeries that have been studied and compared to TURP include:
- Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP), in which incisions are made in the prostate that cause it to press less on the urethra.
- Laser therapy (transurethral laser coagulation and transurethral laser vaporization), in which a laser is used to make incisions in or remove a portion of the prostate.
- Transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT), in which microwave energy is used to destroy a portion of the prostate through heating.
- Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA), in which a heated needle is used to destroy a portion of the prostate.
In most cases, these treatments have been studied for only a few years, so their long-term effectiveness is not yet known. There are some other surgeries that are used in rare cases.
The oldest surgical method to treat BPH is an open prostatectomy, in which an incision is made through the skin to reach the prostate. Doctors use this method less often now, but it is still preferred if the prostate is very large.
What To Think About
Surgery is the most reliable way to relieve symptoms. But surgery may not relieve all your symptoms, and it puts you at risk for certain surgical complications, including erection problems (erectile dysfunction). Other complications include the inability to control the release of urine (urinary incontinence) and ejaculation of semen into the bladder instead of out through the penis (retrograde ejaculation). The complication depends on which type of surgery is used.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Topics
Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
ENABLEX is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat the following symptoms due to a condition called overactive bladder:
- · having a strong need to go to the bathroom right away (also called "urgency")
- · leaks or wetting accidents (also called "urinary incontinence")
- · having to go to the bathroom too often (also called "urinary frequency")
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
You should not take once-daily ENABLEX if you have certain types of stomach problems, glaucoma, or have trouble emptying your bladder. Side effects of ENBLEX include blurred vision, and more commonly dry mouth, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Use caution when doing certain activities until you know how ENBALEX affects you.
