Abstract

Introduction

Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSPB) is considered the procedure of choice for the diagnosis of prostate cancer.[1] TRUSPB is usually performed in outpatient clinics and men undergoing this biopsy experience high psychological stress,[2] may be due to the fear of potential cancer diagnosis or the anal route of penetration.[3]

Thus, it is important to develop a simple method to liberate patients from pain during the biopsy. Different studies recommend techniques as sedation, lidocaine gel intrarectally, periprostatic nerve block alone, or nitrous oxide inhalation as effective methods of analgesia during procedural-related pain or discomfort.[1,4] When systemic medication is administered, patients require cautious monitoring, which may be inconvenient and relatively expensive.[5]

Old studies examined the benefit of local pain control during TRUSPB resulted in controversial findings, regardless of the method of local anesthetic used.[6] For our own knowledge, it is the first time to discuss the combined role of intravenous (IV) sedation and local periprostatic nerve block for analgesia during prostate biopsy.

Methods

Technique

Good bowel preparation with a cleansing enema (a sodium phosphate and dibasic sodium phosphate enema) and antibiotic prophylaxis with levofloxacin 500 mg were prescribed. Patients were randomized into three equal groups where Group I received IV diazepam 5 mg slowly 3–5 min just before probe insertion, Group II received 10 ml of 1% lidocaine injected into the periprostatic nerve plexus bilaterally under ultrasound guidance using a 22-gauge 7-inch needle. Before injection, caution was taken to aspirate to avoid accidental intravascular injection of lidocaine. For proper needle placement and injection of lidocaine, a sonographic hypoechogenicity was created between the rectal wall and the base of the seminal vesicles causing the seminal vesicles to separate from the rectal wall and appear to be raised [Figure 1]. Prostate biopsies had begun 2–3 min after lidocaine injection.

Open in a separate window

Figure 1

Site for periprostatic lidocaine injection. (a) Site for periprostatic lidocaine injection “Mount Everest sign” (arrow) is white pyramid identified in the sagittal plane created by hyperechoic fat in the notch between seminal vesicle SV) and prostate (P) laterally. (b) Sagittal image pre-injection of periprostatic lidocaine. (c) Sagittal image post injection of periprostatic lidocaine, the signs of proper injection with a hypoechoic wheel and apparent elevation of the SV

Group III received diazepam 5 mg slowly and 10 ml of 1% lidocaine injected into the periprostatic nerve plexus bilaterally under ultrasound guidance, 3–5 min just before probe insertion.

Prostatic biopsies were performed in combined directed and random technique or extended random technique in the absence of focal abnormality with a mean number of biopsies 10 biopsies (9–12 biopsies) per patient.

The sedation scale was evaluated according to the following sedation scale: Score 1: no response to shaking, Score 2: responds only to shaking, Score 3: responds only to name call loudly, Score 4: lethargic response to name spoken in normal tone, and Score 5: responds readily to name spoken in normal tone.

After the procedure, discomfort and pain experienced during performing the biopsy technique were graded using the 10-point linear visual analog pain scale [Figure 2].

Open in a separate window

Figure 2

Linear visual analog pain scale

All patients were monitored during and after the whole procedure for vital signs and any possible complication. Patients were questioned regarding any adverse effect at 1-week duration (at the time of receiving the histopathological results). Patients’ satisfaction was also recorded.

Results

Three hundred patients were enrolled in our study, randomized into three equal groups including 100 patients each. Patients’ age ranged from 43 to 82 years (mean 61.4 ± 8.7) in Group I, 49–92 years (mean 62.1 ± 9.1) in Group II, and 44–82 years (mean 62.5 ± 9.7) in Group III with no statistically significant difference [Table 1].

Table 1

Patient characteristics of the patients

Open in a separate window

Regarding the PSA level, there was no statistically significant difference regarding the mean value (F = 0.02, P = 0.998) as it was 11.7, 11.5, and 11.7 ng/ml for the Groups I, II, and III, respectively.

The mean prostate volume for Group I was 30 ± 13.2 ml; for Group II, it was 36 ± 16.4 ml; and that of Group III, it was 29 ± 14.6 ml without any statistically significant difference (F = 1.65, P = 0.195).

The injection of local anesthetic agent was completed in <1 min in all patients of Groups II and III; no additional time delay before proceeding to biopsy in any case where the average procedure time was 12–14 min (mean =13) for Group I, 13–15 min (mean =14) for Group II, and 12–15 min (mean =14) for Group III, followed by bimanual compression for 1 min in all patients.

Mean prostatic biopsy cores in patients groups were 9.7 ± 3.2 for Group I, 9.8 ± 3.3 for Group II, and 9.7 ± 3.3 for Group III with no statistically significant difference (P =0.897).

Pathological findings revealed positive results for malignancy in fifty patients (50%) in Group I, in 28 patients (28%) of Group II, and in 44 patients (44%) of Group III.

In all cases, vital signs were determined before, during, and after the biopsy. All patients had readings within normal values regarding vital signs.

The sedation scale in patients of Groups I and III was ranging from 2 to 4 according to sedation scale with the mean scale of 3.

Mean pain score in these patients was 4.95 ± 1.1 for Group I, 4.1 ± 1.37 for Group II, and 2.18 ± 1.6 for Group III. Statistical analysis using analysis of variance showed that there was a statistically very high significant difference regarding the pain score in the three groups (F = 120.27 with P < 0.001) [Table 2].

Table 2

Visual analog scale and patients’ satisfaction

Open in a separate window

There were no noted patients’ complications due to local anesthetic injection as significant rectal wall hematoma, excessive rectal or urethral bleed, or evident lidocaine toxicity. Patients were followed up after 1 week, none of them had complained of persistent hematuria or rectal bleeding lasting more than 5 days. No major infectious complications that would require hospitalization were encountered. No statistically significant findings were found to occur in the study groups due to the mode of anesthesia employed. No symptoms or signs of lidocaine or diazepam toxicity or overdosage were found [Table 3].

Table 3

Complications encountered in the study

Open in a separate window

Discussion

TRUSPB has been a time-tested procedure in terms of effectiveness and side effects.[7,8] This procedure can safely be performed without any local anesthesia in a significant proportion of patients. The use of local anesthesia is controversy; in some opinions, its employment should be individualized at least to improve psychological patient reassurance in rare patients who may experience considerable difficulty in tolerating the procedure.[6]

Others believe that men should have the opportunity to receive local anesthesia before TRUSPB aiming to decrease discomfort associated with this procedure.[5]

Pain associated with TRUSPB is thought to originate predominantly from the prostate capsule or stroma, where there is a rich network of autonomic fibers. These autonomic nerves convey visceral sensation to the spinal cord. Innervation of the prostate is derived from the caudal roots of S2–S5 and the sympathetic chain through the presacral and hypogastric neural plexus. These fibers ramify in the prostatic vascular pedicles, which are located at the posterolateral aspect of the prostate base.[4]

Another source of pain during the prostate biopsy is the rectum, where the sensory innervation is below the dentate line.[9] However, as biopsy needle pierces the rectal wall in an area of decreased sensorium (above the dentate line), most pain provoked by the biopsy needle is considered to originate in the prostate.[3]

The most commonly used procedures for pain control during TRUSPB are the local application of lidocaine either by intrarectal lidocaine gel or periprostatic lidocaine injection[1,10] and sedation.[11] Many studies evaluated the intrarectal lidocaine gel use versus periprostatic lidocaine injection or IV sedation alone; for our own knowledge, this was the first study done to compare the combined IV sedation and periprostatic lidocaine injection.

IV sedation significantly reduced discomfort, fear of introduction of the probe, and alleviated patient anxiety. While the periprostatic nerve block by infiltrating lidocaine at each side of the apex is sufficient to control pain, the lidocaine bolus extends under the Denonvillier's fascia up to the lateral borders of the prostate and the seminal vesicle-prostatic angles.[1]

The improved patient tolerance achieved by effective anesthesia permitted the number of biopsy cores to be increased as necessary without increasing patient's distress.

Our results are quite similar to Rodriguez et al.,[1] Alavi et al.,[5] Wu et al.,[12] Seymour et al.,[13] Leibovici et al.,[3] and Mallick et al.[14] that show the effectiveness of periprostatic nerve block (P < 0.001).

However, our study showed an increased mean pain score than that recorded in studies of Peters et al.,[11] Turgut et al.,[15] Ozok et al.,[16] and Song et al.[17] This may be attributed to different drugs employed in IV sedation [Table 4].

Table 4

Comparison of randomized prospective studies handling the methods of anesthesia for sonographic-guided prostatic biopsies

Open in a separate window

Furthermore, this study aimed to assess if there is an increase in the incidence of complications when employing either method. There were no noted patients’ complications due to anesthesia injection as rectal wall hematoma, excessive rectal or urethral bleed, or evident lidocaine toxicity or complications due to IV sedation. No statistically significant findings were found to occur between the study groups due to the mode of anesthesia employed. Our results are quite similar to Obek et al.[18] and Desgrandchamps et al.[19] where there was no anesthesia-related increased incidence of complications.

Our study contained few limitations in our opinion (that will be tried to be avoided in the future studies) as first: making the number of biopsies the same in each group of patients, however, the average biopsy technique employed was 9–12 biopsy cores. The mean number of biopsies was calculated with no statistical difference; however, fixing number of biopsy per patient is a very difficult matter as the biopsy regimen is tailored on each case according to TRUS findings.

Second: the assessment of lidocaine toxicity was evaluated on clinical basis only; lidocaine toxicity should be accurately evaluated by evaluation of plasma levels of lidocaine after TRUS biopsy (as the accepted levels when lidocaine is used for regional nerve blocks, plasma levels are usually 3–5 μg/ml while toxicities may be observed at 6 μg/ml, but more commonly occur once levels exceed 10 mcg/ml).[20]

Third: in spite of midazolam has been the most widely used sedative premedication because of its short half-life, faster onset of sedation, and excellent sedative hypnotic effect without any significant side effects, such as vasculitis.[18] However, we used diazepam as it is more available and less expensive, especially for patients in the outpatient clinics.

Conclusions

Patients should have pain relief measures during TRUSPB to decrease the procedure pain and improve patient tolerance permitting proper aiming for biopsy cores and increasing the number of biopsy cores without increasing the patients’ distress. The combined IV sedation and local periprostatic block are more efficient in controlling and limiting pain better than employing each technique alone with no significant increase in complications incidence.

References