TURBT — Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour

What is this procedure?

TURBT (Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour) is an operation to remove a tumour from the inner lining of the bladder. A rigid telescope is passed through the urethra — no cuts are made in the skin — and an electrical resection loop is used to cut away the tumour and a small margin of the underlying muscle. The tissue is sent to the pathology laboratory for analysis to determine whether the tumour is benign or cancerous, what type it is, and how deeply it penetrates the bladder wall. TURBT is both a diagnostic and a therapeutic procedure. It is performed under general or spinal anaesthesia.

Before your procedure

• Fasting: Do not eat or drink for at least six hours before admission.
• Blood thinners: These must be adjusted before the operation. Follow Dr Hadjipavlou’s specific written instructions carefully; do not stop them on your own.
• Urine infection: Any pre-existing urinary infection must be treated before the procedure. Bring a recent urine culture result if available.
• What to bring: Photo ID, insurance documents, medication list, and comfortable loose clothing.
• Most patients have a pre-operative assessment appointment with the nursing team beforehand.

What happens during the procedure

Under anaesthesia, the telescope is passed into the bladder via the urethra. The tumour is resected (cut away) using an electrical loop, and any bleeding vessels are treated with diathermy (heat sealing). The resected chips are washed out and sent for histological analysis. Depending on findings, a single dose of chemotherapy (mitomycin C) may be instilled directly into the bladder through the catheter immediately after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence. The operation usually takes 20–60 minutes.

After the procedure and recovery

• Catheter: A urinary catheter is placed during surgery. It is usually removed 24–48 hours after the procedure, once the urine is reasonably clear.
• Haematuria: Bloody urine is expected for 1–2 weeks. Drink 2–3 litres of fluid each day to keep the urine flowing. Avoid strenuous activity that might provoke heavier bleeding.
• Hospital stay: Usually one to two nights.
• Driving: Do not drive for 24 hours after general anaesthesia. Avoid driving until comfortable — typically 1–2 weeks.
• Return to work: Most people with sedentary jobs return within 1–2 weeks. Avoid heavy lifting and vigorous sport for four weeks.
• Follow-up: The pathology result is discussed with you in the outpatient clinic, usually within 2–3 weeks. Depending on the result, further treatment (further TURBT, BCG or chemotherapy instillation, or cystoscopic surveillance) will be planned.

When to seek medical help

Contact the secretary on 22 444 444 or El Greco Medical Centre +357 22 782 000 out of hours if you experience:

• Fever above 38 °C or rigors
• Heavy bright-red bleeding or clots causing difficulty passing urine
• Inability to pass urine after catheter removal
• Severe pain not controlled by prescribed medication

Attend the nearest Accident & Emergency department if you cannot reach us or feel acutely unwell.