Postoperative Care and Complications of Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)

Travel Restrictions and Precautions

Patients should avoid air travel for at least 2-3 weeks after TURP to prevent complications from gas expansion at altitude, as recommended by the American Heart Association 1
Ground travel is safer than air travel within the first 2-3 weeks, but patients should still avoid prolonged sitting and heavy lifting, according to the American College of Cardiology 1
Patients should be medically stable with no active bleeding, infection, or urinary retention before any travel, as advised by the American Urological Association 1
Patients with recent TURP are susceptible to dehydration during travel, which can affect healing and increase the risk of urinary complications, as noted by the European Association of Urology 1
If a catheter is still in place, patients need clear instructions on catheter care and management before traveling, as recommended by the American Urological Association 2

Screening for and treating asymptomatic bacteriuria before TURP is strongly recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, as it is a risk factor for postoperative sepsis 5, 6
Preoperative screening with urine culture and targeted antimicrobial therapy can reduce the risk of postoperative infections, as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 5, 6
Antimicrobial therapy should be initiated 30-60 minutes before the procedure, and short-course therapy is recommended, according to the World Health Organization 5, 6

Patients on warfarin are at higher risk for bleeding complications and require careful perioperative management with bridging protocols, as recommended by the American College of Cardiology 2, 4
Bridge with low molecular weight heparin perioperatively, holding it 24 hours before surgery and resuming at least 24-48 hours postoperatively, as advised by the European Society of Cardiology 2, 4
Aspirin can increase minor bleeding, but it is typically manageable conservatively, according to the American Heart Association 2, 4

Bleeding requiring transfusion occurs in approximately 8% of cases, and hemorrhage management requires continuous bladder irrigation and possible endoscopic fulguration, as noted by the American Urological Association 3
TURP syndrome is a potentially life-threatening complication that requires immediate recognition and treatment, as advised by the European Association of Urology 3
Sexual dysfunction, particularly retrograde ejaculation, occurs in approximately 65% of patients, making it a common long-term complication, according to the American Urological Association 3