Intraprostatic Anesthesia During Transperineal Prostate Biopsy

Transperineal prostate biopsy is currently considered the preferred approach for prostate cancer diagnosis because of its low risk of infectious complications and favorable safety profile. Despite these advantages, pain experienced during the procedure remains a significant concern and may adversely affect patient satisfaction, procedural tolerance, and acceptance of repeat biopsy when clinically indicated.

Pain during prostate biopsy is primarily related to the rich autonomic innervation of the prostatic capsule and stroma. Perineal local anesthesia is commonly used to reduce procedural discomfort; however, pain may still occur, particularly during needle sampling of the prostatic parenchyma. Intraprostatic local anesthetic infiltration has been proposed as an adjunctive technique to provide more comprehensive analgesia by directly targeting the biopsy area. Previous studies have suggested that the addition of intraprostatic anesthesia may further reduce pain during prostate biopsy procedures.

The objective of this prospective randomized controlled study is to investigate the impact of intraprostatic local anesthesia on pain perception during transperineal prostate biopsy performed under local anesthesia. In addition, the study aims to evaluate the association between procedural pain and patient-related factors, including anxiety and depression levels assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), as well as clinical and procedural characteristics.

The findings of this study may contribute to the optimization of local anesthesia protocols and improve patient comfort during transperineal prostate biopsy.

Inclusion criteria

• Male patients aged 18 years or older
• Clinical indication for transperineal prostate biopsy based on elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and/or suspicious digital rectal examination findings
• Ability to understand and complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
• Ability to provide pain scores using a 10-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
• Provision of written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Previous history of prostate biopsy
• Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to local anesthetic agents
• Hematological disorders affecting coagulation
• Active urinary tract infection
• Neurological disorders that may affect pain perception
• Psychiatric disorders that may affect pain assessment or completion of study -questionnaires
• Inability to complete the HADS questionnaire or VAS assessment
• Refusal to participate or inability to provide informed consent