Going For Surgery

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 About the Surgery

TransUrethral Resection of Bladder Tumour is when a telescope is passed into the opening of the urinary tract into the bladder. The tumour is then visualized and cut away with a special electrical knife within the telescope.

 Aim of Surgery

Treatment of bladder cancers

 How Long is Surgery

30-45 minutes

 Anaesthetic

General anaesthesia - you are put to sleep for the whole operation. This is the most common type of anaesthetic used for TURBT.

Spinal anaesthesia - the anaesthetist inserts a needle in the back to cause numbness from the waist down. This may be used in patients who have severe breathing difficulties or heart disease and are deemed to have higher risks having general anaesthesia.

The anaesthetist will discuss these options with you before surgery

 Incision/Cut

No Skin incisions.

All cuts are made internally on the bladder wall to remove the bladder tumours

 Description of Surgery

After you have been given the anaesthetic/sedation, your legs are placed in stirrups at the beginning of the procedure.

The surgeon passes the telescope through the urethra (opening of the penis) into the bladder.

The bladder wall and openings to the ureters (tubes going to the kidneys) are then examined through the scope whilst filling the bladder with water. The surgeon will then surgically remove the bladder cancer in small pieces.

Specimens of the bladder cancer will be sent for pathology and will not be available immediately.

 Complications of Surgery

There is a small risk of:

Bleeding

Infection - responds well to tablet antibiotics

Pain or burning sensation when passing water - responds to pain medication

Rarely more serious complications may occur:

Damage to the bladder or ureter

Risks of general anaesthetic such as heart or breathing problems, allergies, or clots in the deep veins

 Duration of Hospital Stay

0-1 night (Generally overnight)

After the procedure has been completed, a urinary catheter tube may be inserted into the bladder to drain away blood/clots and urine. You may need to stay in hospital for one or more nights.

If no catheter is required (eg for very small bladder tumour and therefore minimal bleeding), you may go home the same day