Major rectal bleeding following transrectal needle prostate biopsy

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate core biopsy is a very useful diagnostic tool in urological diseases. It constitutes a simple and safe outpatient procedure in the majority of patients, although hemorrhagic complications, ranging from transient hematuria to catastrophic rectal bleeding, may occur [1].

Rectal bleeding affects up to 50 % of patients, although only 1 % of these patients present with hemodynamic instability requiring blood transfusion support [2] [3]. Endoscopic haemostatic measures present an efficient, noninvasive method to control these kinds of serious events [2] [3] [4] [5].

References

• 1 Ghani K R, Dundas D, Patel U. Bleeding after transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsy: a study of 7-day morbidity after a six-, eight-, and twelve-core biopsy protocol.  BJU Int. 2004;  94 1014-1020
• 2 Brullet E, Guevara M C, Campo R. et al . Massive rectal bleeding following transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy.  Endoscopy. 2000;  32 792-795
• 3 Strate L L, O’Leary M P, Carr-Locke D L. Endoscopic treatment of massive rectal bleeding following prostate needle biopsy.  Endoscopy. 2001;  33 981-984
• 4 Geraci G, Sciumé C, Pisello F. et al . Severe rectal bleeding after transrectal US-guided prostate biopsy. Case report.  G Chir. 2006;  27 321-323
• 5 Witte J T, Bohlman T. Endoscopic band ligation of colonic bleeding.  Gastrointest Endosc. 2000;  51 117-119