[Adverse effects of transrectal prostatic biopsy. Analysis of 303 procedures]

Prostate biopsy is a basic step towards prostate cancer (Pca) diagnosis, but usually not free from complications. In this article we have reviewed the adverse effects of this procedure in our setting.

We studied in a prospective fashion the complications arising from transrectal prostate biopsy with the aid of a questionnaire fulfilled by 303 patients who underwent this procedure, within the context of a Pca screening program. All biopsies were transrectal ultrasound guided and randomly taken (sextant). A cleaning enema was applied the night before, and 100 mg of intramuscular tobramycin were administered prior of the procedure.

Ninety patients (29.7%) had no adverse effects at all, and 136 (44.9%) reported at least one minor complication (hematuria, hemospermia, or autolimited dysuria). Lastly 77 (25.4%) presented with major complications--urinary retention, fever, need for medical assistance (primary or hospital care) or treatment. Thirty-five patients (11.5%) reported to present with fever after biopsy, 145 (47.8%) hematuria, 95 (31.3%) hemospermia, 77 (25.4%) rectal bleeding, 67 (22.1%) urinary difficulty, and 9 (2.9%) urinary retention. Up to 39 (12.8%) needed to visit their G.P., and 19 of them were referred to Hospital, where only 6 (1.9%) were admitted longer than 24 hours. No intensive care unit admittances or deaths were reported.

The rate of post-transrectal biopsy adverse effects is high in our experience. This phenomenon could be explained, in part, due to data collecting by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Probably the high fever rate presented here could be diminished with other type of antibiotic prophylaxis.