The effect of heated lidocaine gel on pain reduction during transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy: a randomized-controlled study.

Purpose: To determine whether intrarectal local anesthesia (IRLA) with heated lidocaine gel provides pain reduction during transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy.

Methods: We conducted a randomized-controlled study with 153 participants who underwent TRUS-guided, systematic 12-core prostate biopsy from May 2018 to June 2019. These participants were divided into three test groups. Before prostate biopsy, group A (51 patients) received no local anesthesia, group B (51 patients) received IRLA with 20 mL 2% lidocaine gel stored at room temperature, and group C (51 patients) received IRLA with heated (40 ℃) 20 mL 2% lidocaine gel. Pain was assessed using the 0-10 visual analogue scale (VAS) at three time points: VAS-1: during probe insertion, VAS-2: during biopsy, VAS-3: 30 min after the procedure. Complications during and after the procedure were evaluated.

Results: The mean VAS-2 score was significantly lower in group C compared to groups A and B (A, 4.6; B, 4.2; and C, 3.2; p < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the three groups in mean VAS-1 and VAS-3 scores. No significant difference was detected in incidence of complications between the three groups. No allergic reactions to lidocaine gel were observed.

Conclusion: IRLA with heated lidocaine gel provides more effective pain control during TRUS-guided prostate biopsy than does conventional IRLA and no local anesthesia, without an increase of complications.