Transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate: aspirin increases the incidence of minor bleeding complications.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether patients taking aspirin were more likely to experience bleeding complications after transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy.


METHODS
Three hundred and eighty-seven patients taking aspirin who underwent prostate biopsy over a 3.5 year period and 731 patients not taking aspirin over a 2 year period returned a questionnaire assessing the incidence and severity of bleeding complications.


RESULTS
Patients taking aspirin had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of haematuria and rectal bleeding, but not of haemospermia. They also had a longer mean duration of bleeding, but no increase in bleeding severity. Severe bleeding was very uncommon in both groups and no patients required intervention for bleeding complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Aspirin exacerbates minor bleeding complications in patients undergoing TRUS guided biopsy of the prostate, but in this large group of aspirin-taking patients no dangerous bleeding complications were encountered. It may be that the risks associated with aspirin cessation outweigh the risks of haemorrhagic complications.
Halliwell
O T
OT
Department of Radiology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK. hallo99@doctors.org.uk
Yadegafar
G
G
Lane
C
C
Dewbury
K C
KC
D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006417:Hematuria / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D051516:Hemospermia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin