The procedure of transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate: a survey of patient preparation and biopsy technique.

PURPOSE: We surveyed urologists in community and academic practice regarding their standard approach to patient preparation and their technique of transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We mailed 110 surveys to community urologists in Florida and urological oncologists at academic centers across the United States. Responses were calculated per group.

RESULTS: Of the 88 respondents 34% were at academic centers and 66% were community urologists. Overall 79% of respondents prescribe an enema in preparation for biopsy, 81% administer an oral fluoroquinolone before biopsy, 50% give some type of analgesia, usually an oral agent, 63% obtain 8 or more cores per biopsy session, 36% biopsy the lateral and midline locations, and 83% do not use prostate specific antigen density to plan the biopsy strategy.

CONCLUSIONS: The majority of urologists who responded to our survey ask their patients to use an enema in preparation for a transrectal biopsy procedure, prescribe an oral antibiotic and administer some type of analgesia. Few urologists administer a periprostatic nerve block. The majority obtain at least 8 biopsies and only 17% perform sextant biopsy. Some of these practices are not consistent with the literature. This survey provides insight into the practice patterns of urologists in regard to one of the most commonly performed office procedures.