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Procedures

Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT)

Urologist in Salt Lake City, near Sandy, UT

A transurethral resection of bladder tumor, abbreviated as TURBT, is a surgical procedure used to treat bladder cancer by removing potentially cancerous tissue.

TURBT surgeries are often done in the early stages of bladder cancer. This procedure is also an excellent way to confirm how far the cancer has spread within the bladder, and whether or not it has managed to invade the muscular wall of the bladder.

If the cancerous tissue is removable, a TURBT is typically able to separate it and resect the cancer from the bladder entirely. However, if the cancer has spread into the wall of the bladder, then it may be best to consider a cystectomy or the removal of the bladder. This will often depend on how quickly the cancer is detected.

What to Expect

During a transurethral resection of bladder tumor, a resectoscope will be placed into the patient’s bladder via the urethra. The resectoscope is equipped with a wire loop, which the surgeon will use to scrape away any cancerous tissue or tumors.

It can be difficult to resect every bit of cancer during the first TURBT surgery, which is why some patients will also need to undergo a second TURBT or be treated using fulguration. Fulguration is another procedure in which the base of the tumor is burned to keep the tumor from growing back.

TURBT Side Effects

There are very few serious side effects associated with the TURBT procedure. Many patients who undergo a transurethral resection of bladder tumor will experience mild discomfort such as pain during urination or blood within the urine.

Bladder cancer is often recurring, which means that multiple TURBT procedures may need to be performed on a single patient. The more times a TURBT is used to treat the bladder cancer, the more scarring that the bladder will develop. Such scarring can lead to increased frequency of urination, or it may even lead to some form of urinary incontinence.

TURBT Recovery

Because many of the possible side effects for a transurethral resection of bladder tumor are considered mild, most patients are able to return home within the same day as their surgery. After 1-2 weeks, they may also begin engaging in all of their regular activities.

Schedule an Appointment

If you think you may be a candidate for TURBT, schedule your appointment with Dr. Gange online or call our office today at (801) 993-1800.

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I have seen Dr. Gange for a number of years and developed the typical symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate. During my annual urologist visit, Dr. Gange laid out my options. After doing some personal research, I elected to have the Urolift procedure performed by Dr. Gange on an outpatient basis.

The procedure was uncomfortable but not particularly painful compared to other surgeries I have had. Recovery was relatively quick and I was back at work after two days of rest.

I did experience some significant discomfort associated with urination but was counseled that I was not drinking enough water. Once I increased my consumption of water, most of the discomfort went away and I was back to normal after about two weeks.

In the wake of the surgery, the urgency to urinate has gone away. The interval between trips to the bathroom has lengthened significantly such that I usually get up to urinate only once each night and sometimes not at all.

Having talked with others who have had more drastic prostate surgery, I feel that the Urolift procedure was much less stressful and the results were as hoped for.

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