BHP TREATMENT. OPEN PROSTATECTOMY: COMPLICATIONS
Bleeding. Bleeding after surgery can be caused by too much activity, including straining to go to the bathroom. Your doctor will probably give you a stool softener or mild laxative to make that crucial first bowel movement after surgery easier. Also, you’ll probably be advised to steer clear of aspirin and strenuous activity for the first four weeks after surgery to avoid a delayed episode ofbteeding. With the TUR procedures, there’s a lower risk than with open prostatectomy of bleeding during and after surgery that requires a transfusion. (In one study, 7 to 14 percent of men who underwent TUR needed transfusions.) Bleeding seems to be associated with the size of the prostate and duration of surgery; a larger prostate generally means more tissue to remove, and thus a longer time spent in the operating room.
The “Rollerball” Variation. In a brand new approach to TUR, surgeons use an electrocautery “rollerball” instead of the cutting loop. Overgrown tissue is vaporized, not chiseled away, so there are no leftover chips. The technique is highly promising: It appears to have minimal complications, litde bleeding, and shorter catheterization and hospital stays. And, while it offers many advantages of laser prostatectomy and other high-tech procedures, it’s far less expensive. There are many good reasons to believe the rollerball may soon become the technology of choice.
TUR Syndrome. This, too, occurs very rarely—in about 2 percent of patients. It’s caused when the body absorbs excessive amounts of the irrigating fluid used during the TUR procedure. Its symptoms are nausea, confusion, vomiting, high blood pressure, a falling heart rate, and visual problems. TUR syndrome is temporary and is quickly reversible with diuretics or a saline solution, which help restore the body’s normal fluid and mineral balance.
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