App Store
Google Play
TURBT stands for transurethral resection of bladder tumour. It is a common TURBT urology procedure used to diagnose and treat bladder cancer, mainly tumours that have not grown into the bladder muscle. In TURBT, the surgeon passes a scope through the urethra, removes the visible tumour, and sends the tissue for testing. This helps confirm the cancer type, grade, and depth.
What Is TURBT?
TURBT is bladder tumour removal done through the urethra. It usually keeps the bladder intact and does not need an abdominal cut. TURBT is often advised after blood in urine, also called hematuria, or when a bladder growth is seen on imaging or cystoscopy. It helps doctors know whether bladder cancer is non-muscle-invasive or muscle-invasive.
How TURBT Works
TURBT usually follows these steps:
- You receive general or spinal anaesthesia.
- The surgeon passes a scope through the urethra.
- The bladder is filled with sterile fluid.
- The tumour is removed with a small wire loop.
- Heat seals bleeding points.
- Tissue is sent for histopathology.
- A catheter may drain urine and reduce blockage from blood clots.
The TURBT procedure may take less than an hour in many cases.
Indications For TURBT
Your doctor may advise TURBT if you have:
- A bladder tumour seen during cystoscopy
- Hematuria with suspicious findings
- Abnormal urine cytology
- A bladder mass on ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI
- Suspected non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer
- Recurrent bladder tumour
- Urinary symptoms that need tissue diagnosis
It may also help reduce bleeding, irritation, or blockage caused by a tumour.
Preparation For TURBT
Preparation for TURBT surgery starts with a review of your medicines, allergies, bleeding risk, urinary tract infections, and anaesthesia history. You may need to stop blood thinners for a short time, but only if your doctor says it is safe. You may also need to fast before TURBT.
How To Prepare For TURBT Surgery
Before TURBT surgery, your care team may ask you to:
- Share your full medicine list
- Report fever or burning urination
- Complete blood and urine tests
- Follow fasting instructions
- Arrange transport and home support
- Ask when to restart regular medicines
TURBT Surgery Procedure Overview
During the operation:
- Anaesthesia is given.
- The resectoscope is inserted through the urethra.
- The bladder tumour is located and removed.
- The tumour base may be sampled.
- Bleeding areas are sealed.
- Tissue is sent to pathology.
- Medicine may be placed in the bladder after TURBT.
This direct bladder medicine is called intravesical therapy. It may include chemotherapy or immunotherapy depending on your risk group.
Risks And Complications Of TURBT
TURBT is generally safe, but risks can include burning urination, frequent urination, mild pain, bleeding, urinary tract infections, blood clots, Urinary Retention, or bladder injury.
Urinary Retention means you cannot pass urine properly. Blood clots may block urine flow and make catheter drainage necessary. Contact your doctor urgently if you cannot urinate, pass large blood clots, develop fever, or have worsening pain.
Post-Operative Care
After the procedure, drink fluids as advised, rest, and avoid heavy lifting until your doctor clears you. Mild bleeding can happen, but it should improve. You may go home with a catheter for a short time.
Do not ignore fever, severe pain, foul-smelling urine, large clots, or Urinary Retention.
Benefits Of TURBT
The procedure offers several benefits:
- It helps confirm bladder cancer diagnosis.
- It removes visible bladder tumours.
- It helps identify tumour grade and stage.
- It supports treatment planning.
- It may avoid more invasive surgery in selected early cases.
- It can be repeated if needed.
- It helps decide whether intravesical therapy, cystectomy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy is needed.
TURBT urology findings often guide the next step in bladder cancer care.
Side Effects Of TURBT
Common side effects include burning while passing urine, frequent urination, urgency, mild pelvic discomfort, and blood in urine. These usually improve as the bladder heals.
The catheter can feel uncomfortable, but it helps drain urine and reduce blockage risk. Your care team will explain how long it may stay.
Alternative Treatments To TURBT
Alternatives or additional treatments depend on cancer stage and risk. These may include:
- Intravesical chemotherapy after TURBT
- BCG immunotherapy for selected bladder cancer
- Repeat TURBT when deeper assessment is needed
- Partial cystectomy in selected cases
- Radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive or high-risk disease
- Systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy
- Radiation therapy in selected plans
- Active surveillance in carefully selected low-risk cases
TURBT is still usually needed to confirm diagnosis before many decisions are made.
What Tests Should Be Done Before TURBT?
Your doctor may advise:
- Urine routine and microscopy
- Urine culture
- Urine cytology in selected cases
- Complete blood count
- Kidney function tests
- Liver function tests
- Blood sugar and electrolytes
- Coagulation profile
- Ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI
- Cystoscopy findings review
- ECG and anaesthesia fitness tests
Metropolis Healthcare offers blood tests, urine tests, and full body checkups that can support pre-surgery evaluation and general health monitoring before TURBT.
What Tests Should Be Done After TURBT?
After treatment, follow-up may include:
- Histopathology of removed bladder tissue
- Tumour grade and stage review
- Repeat cystoscopy as advised
- Urine tests if infection is suspected
- Kidney function tests
- Imaging if stage or spread needs assessment
- Blood tests before chemotherapy or immunotherapy
- Long-term monitoring for recurrence
Bladder cancer can come back, so surveillance is important even after successful treatment.
Post-Surgery Care And Follow-Up
Your follow-up after TURBT depends on the pathology report. Some people need one TURBT only. Others may need repeat TURBT, intravesical therapy, or more advanced treatment. Keep every follow-up appointment, even if you feel well.
Metropolis Healthcare can support preventive healthcare and ongoing monitoring with 4,000 plus tests, speciality testing, accurate reports, quick turnaround time, home sample collection, and easy booking through website, call, app, and WhatsApp.
FAQ
Do You Need Chemo After TURBT?
Some people need chemotherapy after TURBT, but not everyone. In selected cases, chemotherapy may be placed directly into the bladder. If cancer is advanced, systemic chemotherapy may be considered. Your doctor will decide based on the pathology report and stage.
What Is The Difference Between TURP And TURBT?
TURP is transurethral resection of the prostate. It is done for prostate enlargement. TURBT is transurethral resection of bladder tumour. It is done to diagnose and treat bladder tumours.
Is TURBT Considered High Risk Surgery?
TURBT is usually not considered high risk for most medically fit people. Risk can increase if the tumour is large, bleeding is heavy, infection is present, or the person has serious health conditions.
What Foods Heal The Bladder Lining?
No food can directly heal a bladder tumour or replace medical treatment. After TURBT, a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and fluids can support recovery. Limit alcohol, excess caffeine, and very spicy foods if they worsen symptoms.
How Much Water Should I Drink After TURBT?
Your doctor may ask you to drink plenty of fluids after the procedure unless you have kidney, heart, or fluid restriction issues. Water helps dilute urine and may reduce irritation. Follow the exact amount advised by your doctor.
References
- Holzbeierlein JM, Bixler BR, Buckley DI, Chang SS, Holmes R, James AC, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: AUA/SUO guideline: 2024 amendment. J Urol. 2024;211(4):533-538. PMID: 38265030.
- Gontero P, Mostafid AH, Palou J, Shariat SF, Sylvester R, Witjes JA, et al. European Association of Urology guidelines on non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a summary of the 2024 guidelines update. Eur Urol. 2024. PMID: 39155194.
- Perlis N, Zlotta AR, Beyene J, Finelli A, Fleshner NE, Kulkarni GS. Immediate post-transurethral resection of bladder tumor intravesical chemotherapy prevents non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer recurrences: an updated meta-analysis on 2548 patients and quality-of-evidence review. Eur Urol. 2013;64(3):421-430. PMID: 23830475.
- Sylvester RJ, van der Meijden APM, Oosterlinck W, Witjes JA, Bouffioux C, Denis L, et al. Predicting recurrence and progression in individual patients with stage Ta T1 bladder cancer using EORTC risk tables: a combined analysis of 2596 patients from seven EORTC trials. Eur Urol. 2006;49(3):466-477. PMID: 16442208.
- National Cancer Institute. Bladder cancer treatment. Updated 2024.
