Anesthesia for a Prostate Biopsy

Posted by rick137 @rick137, Mar 2 11:14am

Given DRE, PSAs and MRI results to date which indicate possible prostate cancer, my next diagnostic is a prostate biopsy. Because I have intermittent AFib, although I consider well controlled by careful attention to diet and exercise regime, the urologist needs cardiac clearance before doing the biopsy in a clinic environment. Fair enough. However, the cardiology resources are in great demand so cardiac clearance would be several months. The alternative is doing the biopsy under anesthesia which I welcomed since the wait time is only a month. Well, hopefully since I have to pass anesthesia clearance. I had two operations under anesthesia in 2017 without issue but then I was 76 and now am 82. I am in no way questioning the procedure, just would like to know any comments from people who have had a prostate biopsy under anesthesia.

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I had my biopsy at age 72, in the Urologist’s office. I paid $95 for having nitrous at my disposal. This made the procedure much “less intrusive,” in a manner of speaking. For me the worst part was afterwards, the constant “urge to pee” with an empty bladder - this subsided after a few hours.

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@mn281

I had a transperineal biopsy at the Mayo with only a local numbing agent. There was zero pain. I was anxious about it prior, but surprised that I didn't feel any pain whatsoever.

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Was this done at Rochester? My urolgist at Mayo Jacksonville told me that one urolgist at Mayo Rochester developed a procedure where they went in transperineal without having anesthesia. However Mayo Jacksonville requires anesthesia if you have biopsies done transperineal.

They will do it transectal without anesthesia. It took a lot of effort on my part to get my heart failure doctors to advise there was no issue with me having heart failure and having anethesia which he did not want not to do originally because of my heart failure.

I had many procedures done under anesthesia and I compete in Sprint Triathons. Guess some deeper research into your patients medical and physical status would have change originally opinion.

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@firespooks

I had biopsy cores taken in the doctor’s office . It was the worst paint that I have ever experienced. And I had several kidney stones passed before . And the pain was worse than the stones ! Maybe he should of used more anesthesia 🤷‍♂️

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Yes to painful. Wait until you get radiation cystitis or radiation proctitis and pass blood clots the size of a small cashew and the ED puts in a catheter the size of a garden hose and wrecks everything inside. Biopsy not so bad.

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@jc76

Was this done at Rochester? My urolgist at Mayo Jacksonville told me that one urolgist at Mayo Rochester developed a procedure where they went in transperineal without having anesthesia. However Mayo Jacksonville requires anesthesia if you have biopsies done transperineal.

They will do it transectal without anesthesia. It took a lot of effort on my part to get my heart failure doctors to advise there was no issue with me having heart failure and having anethesia which he did not want not to do originally because of my heart failure.

I had many procedures done under anesthesia and I compete in Sprint Triathons. Guess some deeper research into your patients medical and physical status would have change originally opinion.

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Yes, done at Rochester without anesthesia.

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@mn281 You are very fortunate to have been able to use this urologist surgeon that developed that procedure to do a transperinal without anesthesia.

My Jacksonville urologist offered to referr me to this individual who deveoped the procedure. You got state of art and newest method for doing MRI/Fusion biopsies. I was told this particular urologist did a lot of research and testing to be able to have this done this way at Mayo. Hopefully he will teach others.

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I am 74 also with Afib and did a 30 core transperineally fusion guide biopsy at Mayo Phoenix with a local with no pain or problems whatsoever. Just stopped my Xarelto two days before with the approval of my cardiologist.

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Many years ago, my PSA was very high and it was decided that a biopsy was needed. I anguished over this procedure from the day the procedure was scheduled. On the day of the procedure, I was fearing the worse.
The doctor took 12 little samples, 6 on each side. The only thing I felt was the slight snap (similar to a stapler being activated) with each sample. There was absolutely no discomfort at all. I have no idea if any anesthetic was used, but nothing was injected or ingested into me. Perhaps a topical was applied, but I really don't know. As a side note, the results were negative.

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@maxvt

I had my biopsy at age 72, in the Urologist’s office. I paid $95 for having nitrous at my disposal. This made the procedure much “less intrusive,” in a manner of speaking. For me the worst part was afterwards, the constant “urge to pee” with an empty bladder - this subsided after a few hours.

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At 77 I also had my biopsy in Urologist's office. My PSA 4.6 I had been told by GP not to worry about it. However, my Uroligist was and asked me to agree to biopsy. Doctor administered lidocaine which kept me as comfortable as possible.
I decided to go to Mayo, Rochester for a second opinion. Mayo's recommended Proton 5 treatments. To prepare for that I had Space OAR injection. They told me I could do without anesthesia if I wanted. However, the tech who got me ready strongly recommended that I agree to mild anesthesia which would put me in a semi awake state and not remember anything of the procedure. I am happy I did that. I could hear voices, faintly, but not remember anything that was done or said. The 5 Proton treatments were a piece of cake with none of the side effects other people I know who had Photon treatments.

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@jc76

@mn281 You are very fortunate to have been able to use this urologist surgeon that developed that procedure to do a transperinal without anesthesia.

My Jacksonville urologist offered to referr me to this individual who deveoped the procedure. You got state of art and newest method for doing MRI/Fusion biopsies. I was told this particular urologist did a lot of research and testing to be able to have this done this way at Mayo. Hopefully he will teach others.

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JC76, my transperineal biopsy was performed by a PA at Mayo Rochester, not a specialized surgeon. It is an in-office procedure and was done with local (lidocaine) only. I think this is the standard procedure at Mayo Rochester.

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@mn281

JC76, my transperineal biopsy was performed by a PA at Mayo Rochester, not a specialized surgeon. It is an in-office procedure and was done with local (lidocaine) only. I think this is the standard procedure at Mayo Rochester.

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My understanding is the standard at Mayo Phoenix is also an in-office procedure done with a local. Anesthesia in my case will be a work-around for not being able to obtain timely cardiac clearance.

Given the importance of the biopsy I am surprised it was done by a PA. Was it a MRI fusion biopsy?

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