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Local Anesthesia During Transrectal Ultrasonography-guided Prostate Biopsy: does it have any Effect on Sexual Function?

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Abstract

Introduction

TRUS (Trans Rectal Ultra Sonographic)-guided biopsy of the prostate is the procedure of choice for prostate cancer diagnosis in urological clinical practice. TRUS-guided biopsies are associated with pain and anxiety and may interfere with sexual function and potency. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether local anesthesia during TRUS-guided prostate biopsies has any effect on the sexual behavior of patients and to compare the periprostatic infiltration with lidocaine to simple sonographic gel application in a randomized prospective trial.

Patients and Methods

A total of 62 consecutive patients were included in the study randomized in two groups; Group A (n = 30, control group) and Group B (n = 32, lidocaine infiltration group). Interviews regarding their sexual status were conducted at the time they were informed of the need for biopsy, at the time of biopsy and at two scheduled interviews following the biopsy.

Results

Similar results of sexual dysfunction were observed between the two groups. About 6% of patients experienced some degree of dysfunction in anticipation of biopsy (P > 0.02 between the two groups) that was resolved by the end of the follow-up period. In total, only one Group B patient continued to show sexual dysfunction at the time of the last interview compared to two patients in Group A.

Conclusions

Local infiltration with lidocaine does not seem to play a role in sexual dysfunction following prostate biopsies. Psychological factors influence patients and the urologist should be ready to inform and reassure both the patient and his family.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Athens University Medical School, Laiko General Hospital, 91 Irinis Stree, 153 41, Agia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece

    Konstantinos G. Stravodimos, Konstantinos N. Haritopoulos, Christos Alamanis, Ioannis Anastasiou & Constantinos Constantinides

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  1. Konstantinos G. Stravodimos
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  2. Konstantinos N. Haritopoulos
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  3. Christos Alamanis
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  4. Ioannis Anastasiou
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  5. Constantinos Constantinides
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Konstantinos N. Haritopoulos.

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Stravodimos, K.G., Haritopoulos, K.N., Alamanis, C. et al. Local Anesthesia During Transrectal Ultrasonography-guided Prostate Biopsy: does it have any Effect on Sexual Function?. Int Urol Nephrol 39, 893–896 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-006-9063-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-006-9063-z

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