Optimizing local anesthesia during 10-core biopsy of the prostate.
OBJECTIVE
To examine, in a prospective, randomized study, the effect of different anesthetic techniques versus no anesthesia in a 10-core prostate biopsy. Reports thus far have shown a high variability in assessing the pain intensity of prostate biopsies and the effectiveness of anesthesia.


METHODS
Ultrasound-guided 10-core prostate biopsy was performed. Patients were prospectively randomized into four groups: no local anesthesia (group 1); anesthetic block of the prostatic plexus (group 2); local anesthesia onto the capsula of the apex (group 3); and a combination of the anesthesia used for groups 2 and 3 (group 4). The degree of pain was recorded using the visual analog scale/numeric analog scale (VAS/NAS) score.


RESULTS
The study included 187 patients. Results were assessed in 170 patients: 44 in group 1, 44 in group 2, 40 in group 3, and 42 in group 4. In group 1 (no anesthesia), 2 (4.5%) of 44 patients had no pain during biopsy (VAS/NAS = 0); the pain was mild (VAS/NAS of 1 to 4) in 38 (86.4%), moderate (VAS/NAS of 4 to 7) in 3 (6.8%), and severe (VAS/NAS of greater than 7) in 1 (2.3%) of 44 patients. The mean pain scores were 2.33 in group 1, 1.68 in group 2 (P = 0.05), 1.07 in group 3 (P <0.001), and 1.23 in group 4 (P <0.001). Pain caused by the local anesthesia itself was 0 in group 1, 1.52 in group 2 (P = 0.001), 1.05 in group 3 (P = 0.001), and 1.79 in group 4 (P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Local anesthesia significantly reduces pain. An injection onto the capsule at the apex was the most effective technique. It is technically easier to perform than an anesthetic block of the prostatic plexus and can be recommended.
Department of Urology, University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany.
M
M
Schostak
F
F
Christoph
M
M
Müller
R
R
Heicappell
G
G
Goessl
M
M
Staehler
K
K
Miller
D000368:Aged; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine