Chapter 32 - Pain control during prostate biopsy and evolution of local anesthesia techniques

Abstract

With the introduction of PSA and transrectal ultrasound in the diagnosis of prostate diseases in the 1980s, prostate biopsy techniques have evolved into their current form. Although routes and amounts of application of the local anesthetics varied, only a limited number of anesthetic agents have found a place in the market. Apart from local anesthetic agent infiltration, performing the prostate biopsy has become possible by controlling pain through stimulation or inhibition of different nerve pathways in the human body. In this review, the evolution of pain control for prostate biopsy has been discussed on the neuroanatomical basis from past to present.