Enlarged prostate

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a surgical procedure that involves removing part of the prostate gland to alleviate the urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate.  

The procedure is usually carried out using a device called a resectoscope. This is a small metal tube containing a light, camera and loop of wire. The surgeon will insert the resectoscope into your urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) before directing it to the enlarged area of your prostate, with the help of the light and the camera. Then, an electric current is used to heat the loop of wire, and this is used to cut away a section of your prostate. 

TURP has been traditionally been regarded as the most effective treatment for an enlarged prostate, but there have recently been a surge in new minimally invasive procedures being developed, which are just as effective and tend to have less side effects.  

Prostate laser surgery is used to relieve the urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia). These symptoms can include difficulty starting to pee, frequent needing to pee and difficulty fully emptying your bladder.

During prostate laser surgery, your consultant will insert a scope through the tip of your penis into the tube that carries urine from your bladder (your urethra). A laser is then passed through the scope and uses concentrated light and energy to shrink or remove the excess prostate tissue that is causing the issues with peeing.

At the Cromwell we offer two types of laser surgery to treat an enlarged prostate. They work in slightly different ways, and which one is right for you will depend on your personal circumstance:

• GreenLight laser surgery – the laser is directed through the urethra and up to the level of the prostate, where it then quickly and gently vapourises (destroys) the surplus prostate tissue, without harming other healthy tissue 
• Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) – the laser is used to cut and remove the excess tissue that is blocking the flow of urine. Another instrument is then used to cut the prostate tissue into little pieces that can then be safely removed. 

As laser surgery is a minimally invasive procedure, your surgeon can remove a large amount of tissue without any incisions on the body, decreasing the risk of blood and healthy tissue loss. It also means that your hospital stay is short, and you should recover faster, when compared to traditional treatments for an enlarged prostate. 

This procedure uses steam to remove the enlarged part of your prostate. The steam is delivered to your prostate using an instrument inserted through your urethra, the steam energy then destroys the obstructive prostate tissue causing the urinary symptoms.

The procedure often lasts less than ten minutes and generally you will be in and out of hospital within one day.

We are one of the few hospitals in the UK to perform this innovative new procedure outside of a clinical trial setting.  

Aquablation is an effective enlarged prostate treatment that uses a heat-free waterjet to remove the obstructing prostate tissue, which improves urinary function. The procedure provides long-lasting relief and benefits from a very low rate of irreversible complications.

The Aquablation service at Cromwell Hospital is run by Mr Neil Barber, Consultant Urological Surgeon, who introduced the procedure to the UK in 2019.

More about Aquablation >