A general anaesthetic is used. This means that the man will be asleep for the entire procedure. No spinal anaesthetic is used for this type of surgery.
The procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic. It usually takes around 45-60 minutes to perform but is dependent on prostate size with larger glands obviously taking longer to treat.
Usually men are catheterized overnight and typically spend one night in hospital.
After catheter removal it is common to see blood in the urine which variably lasts from a few days to a few weeks depending on prostate characteristics and use of blood thinners.
Obstructive symptoms such as flow, hesitancy, voiding time and feeling of incomplete emptying tend to improve first, followed by improvements in bladder related symptoms such as frequency, urgency and getting up at night. For those with significant urgency and frequency prior to surgery this can get worse initially until adaptive changes in the bladder take place. This can take 8 to 12 weeks to occur.
Some men notice the passage of small pieces of debris at around 10 to 14 days after the treatment. This signifies the passing of pieces of “scab” tissue from the prostate and is a normal part of the heeling process.