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TURBT, endoscopic removal of bladder cancer / polyps
TURBT (transurethral resection of bladder tumor) is a procedure performed by a urologist that allows the physician to see the inside of the lower urinary tract (urethra, prostate, bladder neck, and bladder) and to obtain tissue for diagnosis.
If the lesion suspicous for cancer is superficial (confined to the bladder lining) and has not grown into the bladder wall the physician may elect to remove the tumor using a scope passed into the bladder through the urethra called a resectoscope (transurethral resection). At the same time the physician may elect to biopsy other areas in the bladder lining to be sure that it is free of cancer cells. Small tumors are often destroyed completely by this treatment but unfortunately the bladder may develop other tumors with time.
Because tumors can return, if you are diagnosed with a bladder cancer it is important for the urologist to look into your bladder with a cystoscope on a regular basis and to inspect cells from your urine.
If the doctor believes that you are likely to develop new tumors, you may be advised to undergo additional treatments by having medications (chemotherapy and immunotherapy) instilled into the bladder. Your physician will go over the individual risks and side effects for each treatment, however, most common are lethargy/fatigue, contact dermatitis, fever, chills, infection and bladder/urinary complaints. These intravesical treatments are usually given on a weekly basis for 6-8 weeks followed by some form of maintenance schedule. If one drug is not completely effective, other drugs may be successful and will be recommended.
Side effects of TURBT, which are usually mild and resolve within a couple of hours to days, include burning during urination and blood in the urine (hematuria). Patients can usually go home following the procedure.
Complications are rarely serious and may include the following:
- Infection (fever, chills, severe pain, vomiting). You might be given antibiotics after the procedure. Other times, no antibiotics are given unless you show signs/symptoms of infection.
- Blood in the urine sever enough to require additional treatment.
- Urinary retention (inability to urinate), usually as a result of swelling, bladder distention, or prostate irritation requiring a urinary catheter.
Doctors with expertise in incontinence, bladder suspension ("bladder lift") and sling procedures, kidney stones, no needle no scalpel vasectomy, vasectomy reversal, laparoscopy and laparoscopic kidney and prostate surgery, prostate diseases including cancer and enlarged prostate, cryoablation (or cryotherapy) of prostate and kidney, robotic (da Vinci) prostate surgery
Adult and pediatric urology, urologic surgery, in Orange County California
Serving Orange, Tustin, Irvine, Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Anaheim
Our urology office/urologists accept most major insurance including Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross, Health Net, United Health, Aetna, Cigna, Blue Shield, Pacificare
The information on this site is solely for purposes of general patient education, and may not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult your own physician for evaluation and treatment of your specific condition.
Associated Urologists of Orange County
State-of-the-Art
UROLOGY AND UROLOGIC SURGERY
In a Minimally Invasive Way
