Benign prostate treatments at Spire Cardiff Hospital

If you’ve been suffering from an enlarged prostate or BHP you’ve probably been experiencing urinary problems, such as:

• The frequent need to go to the toilet
• An urgent feeling of needing to urinate
• Delay or difficulty on starting urination
• Feeling that you can’t completely empty your bladder
• A stream that starts and stops and is weak

For some men, the symptoms will be mild, but for others the symptoms can have a detrimental effect on their lives, requiring them to seek treatment.

Your doctor may have suggested ‘watchful waiting’ and medicines but if they haven’t worked there are surgical procedures available to help and hopefully end the symptoms.

One involves a thin surgical tube and is called a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Another is a less invasive procedure called UroLift^®.

We pride ourselves on our clinical excellence, you'll be looked after by an experienced multi-disciplinary care team.

Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care. To us, that means you can choose the consultant you want to see, and when you want. They'll be with you every step of the way.

All of our consultants are of the highest calibre and benefit from working in our modern, well-equipped hospitals.

Our consultants have high standards to meet, often holding specialist NHS posts and delivering expertise in complex sub-specialty surgeries. Many of our consultants have international reputations for their research in their specialised field.

You will have a formal consultation with a healthcare professional. During this time you will be able to explain your medical history, symptoms and raise any concerns that you might have.

We will also discuss with you whether any further diagnostic tests, such as scans or blood tests, are needed. Any additional costs will be discussed before further tests are carried out.

We've tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible.

For more information on visiting hours, our food, what to pack if you're staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information pages.

Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.

We understand that having surgery can potentially be a time of anxiety and worry. Our experienced and caring medical staff will be there for you every step of the way.

You and your consultant will have discussed which procedure is best for you. It may be a TURP or a UroLift^® procedure.

TURP

A transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP for short, involves a thin, tube-like telescope called a resectoscope, which is put into the opening of your penis and passed up the urethra towards the prostate. An attachment at the end of the resectoscope is used to cut away part of the prostate using electrical energy. There are no stitches or dressings after this operation.

The operation lasts for about an hour. Afterwards, a catheter is inserted to allow urine to flow freely. This is a thin, sterile tube that is inserted through the urethra and into your bladder.

UroLift^®

UroLift^® is performed under a local anaesthetic or light general anaesthetic. It typically lasts 30-45 minutes.

The urologist uses an endoscope to insert the UroLift^® system into the urethra through the tip of the penis. The urologist then places tiny implants to hold the prostate lobes apart, like open curtains on a window, to relieve compression on the urethra. This allows urine to flow normally again.

Typically, four implants are placed in the prostate; two on each side to adequately pull the gland back but this is dependent on the size of the prostate and the location of the enlargement.

If you have had a TURP procedure you may need to stay in hospital for up to five days.

UroLift^® is usually carried out as a day-case, so you won't need to stay overnight in hospital and can normally return home the same day without a catheter.

Looking after you

Even once you’ve left hospital, we’re still here for you. Your consultant is likely to want to see you after your treatment to see how you're doing. A follow up appointment will be made for you before you leave the hospital.

Your consultant will talk to you about the possible risks and complications of having this procedure and how they apply to you.

If you have any questions or concerns, we’re ready to help.

We are committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service across our network of hospitals, clinics and specialist care centres around the UK. Our dedicated and highly trained team aim to achieve consistently excellent results. For us it's more than just treating patients, it's about looking after people.

Important to note

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.