Open prostatectomy carries a 12 to 13 percent chance of impotence, while TURP and TUIP are a little better at 7 to 9 percent. TURP, TUIP, and open prostatectomy also have the same general risks that any other operation under anesthesia would have. These include infection, fever, bleeding, and wound complications. A unique collection of side effects called the TURP syndrome, which includes mental confusion, nausea and vomiting, high blood pressure, slow heart rate, and vision changes, follows a small number of TURPs and occurs when the irrigation fluid used during the procedure is inadvertently absorbed into the bloodstream. Finally, BPH surgery also carries a 1 to 3 percent risk of narrowing the urethra and bladder neck by scar tissue.
Death is a possibility with any major operation.
Few men die during a TURP, TUIP, or open prostatectomy, but some die shortly afterward from complications, such as heart attack or stroke. For some reason the experts have yet to figure out, TURP has a slighly higher mortality rate than open prostatectomy. In any case, the risk of death from any of these procedures is very small and should not frighten you away from getting necessary treatment. TURP, TUIP, and open prostatectomy are not equal in their effectiveness in correcting BPH symptoms. The choice among the three depends on the size and shape of your individual prostate gland, so your urologist must ultimately make the decision.