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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 Apr 27;13(4):e0195574.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195574. eCollection 2018.

A 50-50% mixture of nitrous oxide-oxygen in transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy: A randomized and prospective clinical trial

Gabriel da Silva Cazarim  1 , Nubia Verçosa  2 , Leonel Carneiro  1 , Rachel Pastor  1 , Elizabeth Fernandes Vaz da Silva  1 , Louis Barrucand  3 , Ismar Lima Cavalcanti  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A 50-50% mixture of nitrous oxide-oxygen in transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy: A randomized and prospective clinical trial

Gabriel da Silva Cazarim et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Introduction: Transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy (TUSPB) is the standard method of diagnosis for prostate cancer, and although it is well tolerated by some patients, it presents a discomfort rate of 65 to 90%, which may be associated with pain. For convenience, it is agreed that a method of analgesia and sedation is necessary. For this purpose, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of inhalation of a 50-50% N2O-O2 gas mixture on pain intensity in these patients.

Material and methods: Randomized, double-blinded clinical trial, conducted at Antônio Pedro University Hospital (Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro), Niterói, RJ, Brazil, containing two groups of 42 patients: a control (C) group, which received 100% oxygen inhalation, and a nitrous oxide (NO) group, which received inhalation of the 50-50% N2O-O2 mixture, self-administered during TUSPB. The pain intensity and degree of satisfaction were evaluated through a visual analogue scale (VAS), as was the frequency of adverse events.

Results: Eighty-four patients were included in the study, with 42 in each group. The mean pain intensity was lower in the NO group than in the C group [2.52 (0-10) vs 5.95 (0-10), p < 0.001], and the degree of satisfaction was higher in the NO group than in the C group (8.14 vs. 4.69, p < 0.001). The adverse effects were somnolence, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, discomfort and euphoria without differences between the groups.

Conclusion: The 50-50% N2O-O2 mixture was effective in reducing pain intensity and increasing the degree of satisfaction in TUSPB, with tolerable side effects.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow chart of patients through the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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