Relationship between complications due to prostate biopsy and the scores of pain and discomfort.
BACKGROUND
Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy is routinely performed in the prostate-specific antigen era. In this study, we evaluated morbidity and complications observed in patients undergoing TRUS-guided prostate biopsy following intrarectal lidocaine application and the relation of these complications to pain and discomfort.


METHODS
Between January 2000 and August 2002, a total of 128 patients underwent TRUS-guided prostate biopsy. The procedure was carried out following an intrarectal application of 10 cm(3) 2% lidocaine gel. Immediately after the biopsy, pain and discomfort scores were determined using a 10-point linear visual analog scale. The patients were seen 10 days later and questioned for complications.


RESULTS
At least one complication was observed in 107 patients (84%). Most frequent complications were macroscopic hematuria (90%), hematochezia (36%), and hematospermia (13%). The mean pain and discomfort scores of the patients were found to be correlated to each other (p < 0.01). The complication-negative group had significantly lower pain and discomfort scores (p < 0.01). The scores of the patients with hematochezia were significantly higher than the scores of the patients with other complications (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Minor complications like hematuria, hematochezia, and hematospermia are frequently seen in patients undergoing TRUS-guided prostate biopsies. The pain and discomfort scores may be predictors of minor complications, particularly of rectal bleeding.
Celebi
Ilhan
I
Department of Urology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. ilhan.celebi@deu.edu.tr
Irer
Bora
B
Kefi
Aykut
A
Kurtulan
Erkan
E
Goktay
Yigit
Y
Ergin
Tufan
T
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology*