Traditional Surgery

Traditional surgery is the most effective way to improve urinary symptoms and peak flow rates, but it also is associated with more risks than other treatments. Potential complications include bladder perforations, infections, bleeding, difficulties in controlling urine, sexual problems, and even death. The frequency of these complications varies with the type of surgery used. The older the patient is or the more medical problems he has, the greater are the risks.

There are three traditional surgical methods used to treat BPH:

• transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which removes, through the urethra, the prostate tissue that is compressing or obstructing the urethra
• transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP), which relieves constriction of smooth muscle in the bladder by making small incisions in the neck of the bladder
• open prostatectomy, which removes, through an open incision, the prostate tissue that is compressing or restricting the urethra