Periprostatic local anesthesia before ultrasound guided prostate biopsy

Abstract

Purpose: We assessed the morbidity and benefit of periprostatic local anesthesia administered before ultrasound guided prostate biopsy.

Materials and methods: After placing the transrectal ultrasound probe and visualizing the prostate 50 consecutive patients received local anesthesia before prostate biopsies.

Results: There was no morbidity associated with the infiltration of local anesthesia into the periprostatic neurovascular plexus. Only 1 patient had discomfort during prostate biopsies, and 10 patients who previously underwent biopsies without anesthesia commented favorably on the dramatic difference.

Conclusions: Many patients have pain during transrectal ultrasound guided biopsies of the prostate and few clinicians provide a periprostatic nerve block before this procedure. A periprostatic nerve block administered before the biopsies dramatically decreases discomfort. We urge all urologists to attempt this procedure, and we are confident that they will adopt it as part of their practice.