Efficacy and safety of a combined anesthetic technique for transrectal prostate biopsy: a single center, prospective, randomized study

INTRODUCTION: A transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis of prostatic neoplasia. This exam is associated with pain and discomfort, and numerous methods of analgesia during this procedure have been described. There is still no consensus among urologists about the pain control technique that should be performed, even though the periprostatic basal nerve block is the most studied technique. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the benefit of adding local periapical prostatic anesthesia to the traditional periprostatic basal nerve block during TRUS biopsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 70 patients with indication for TRUS biopsy were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 received a periprostatic basal nerve block. Group 2 received both periapical prostatic and periprostatic basal nerve blocks . The pain experienced during different moments of the procedure (introduction of the probe, anesthesia administration, removal of cores and 30 minutes after biopsy) was assessed using visual analog scales of one to ten. The rate of complications at 30 days post-biopsy was also assessed. RESULTS: The difference in pain during the distinct moments of the TRUS biopsy was not significant between the two groups. There were no significant differences concerning age, level of total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate volume in both groups. There were also no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the occurrence of complications and pathological findings. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of concurent periprostatic basal and periapical nerve blocks has no significant benefits as compared to a periprostatic basal nerve block alone.