Complications and risk factors of transrectal ultrasound guided needle biopsies of the prostate evaluated by questionnaire

Background: Transrectal ultrasound guided prostate needle biopsies are routinely performed to diagnose and stage prostate cancer. We prospectively evaluated the safety, morbidity, and complication rate. Materials and methods: We studied 336 patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate needle biopsy. A post-biopsy questionnaire was sent to the patients 4 weeks after biopsy concerning questions about minor complications. Information on major complications was obtained by telephone interview. Results: There were 2 major and 48 minor complications. The most common complication was hematuria in 6.5% of cases, followed by pain while urinating in 6.0% of cases. There was no statistically significance difference between hematuria and aspirin/thrombolytic drug use (P = 0.170) and between positive microbiology in urine and elevated temperature (P = 0.665). Conclusions: Transrectal ultrasound guided prostate needle biopsy is safe for diagnosing prostate cancer with few major and minor complications. Aspirin/thrombolytic drug use in patients' history is no risk factor for hematuria. Positive microbiology in urine before biopsy is no risk factor for a higher infection rate. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.