What to Expect After Transurethral Resection

You’ll probably stay in the hospital 1 to 2 days after transurethral resection. A tube called a catheter is usually left in the urethra after the procedure. The tube prevents blockage of the urethra. It also helps stop the bleeding. Your doctor will remove the catheter when the bleeding stops.

You may feel the need to urinate more often when the tube is removed. You may feel a little pain when you urinate. There may also be a little bit of bleeding. These problems are normal and usually go away after a day or 2. Call your doctor if there’s a lot of pain or bleeding, or the pain or bleeding don’t get better within a day or 2.

There’s a good chance that you won’t have any cancer left after transurethral resection. But you’ll still need to see your doctor every 3 to 6 months. Superficial bladder cancer commonly comes back. Your doctor will want to perform regular cystoscopic exams, usually every 3 to 4 months, to make sure the cancer doesn’t come back or to find it early if it does come back.