Periprostatic local anesthesia before ultrasound guided prostate biopsy

Purpose: We assessed the morbidity and benefit of periprostatic local anesthesia administered before ultrasound guided prostate biopsy. Materials and Methods: After placing the transrectal ultrasound probe and visualizing the prostate 50 consecutive patients received local anesthesia before prostate biopsies. Results: There was no morbidity associated with the infiltration of local anesthesia into the periprostatic neurovascular plexus. Only 1 patient had discomfort during prostate biopsies, and 10 patients who previously underwent biopsies without anesthesia commented favorably on the dramatic difference. Conclusions: Many patients have pain during transrectal ultrasound guided biopsies of the prostate and few clinicians provide a periprostatic nerve block before this procedure. A periprostatic nerve block administered before the biopsies dramatically decreases discomfort. We urge all urologists to attempt this procedure, and we are confident; that they will adopt it as part of their practice.