Objectives: The aim of this study was to pilot the use of a bespoke device (CAMPROBE, the CAMbridge PROstate Biopsy) to enable routine outpatient free-hand local anaesthetic (LA) transperineal prostate biopsies.
Materials and methods: The CAMPROBE prototype was designed and built in our institution. Men on active surveillance due prostate resampling were invited to have a CAMPROBE biopsy as an alternative to repeat transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies (TRUSBx) as part of an approved trial (NCT02375035). Biopsies were performed using LA infiltration only, without sedation or additional analgesia. Patient-reported outcomes were recorded at day 0 and 7 using validated questionnaires and visual analogue scales (VAS). Complications were recorded prospectively.
Results: Thirty men underwent biopsies with a median of 11 cores taken per procedure (interquartile range 10-12). There were no infections, sepsis or retention episodes. Haematuria and haematospermia occurred in 67% and 62% of patients, which are similar to rates reported for TRUSBx. Mean VAS for pain (0-10 scale) was less than 3 for every part of the procedure. All 30 men described the procedure as tolerable under LA. In total, 26/30 (86.7%) men expressed a preference for a CAMPROBE procedure over TRUSBx and a further 3 (10.0%) would have either.
Conclusions: In this small pilot study, the CAMPROBE device and method appears to be a safe, simple and well-tolerated out-patient transperineal replacement for TRUSBx. A major new National Institute for Health Research grant will allow its further development from a prototype to a single use, low-cost disposable device ready for multi-centre testing.
Level of evidence: 1b: individual cohort study.
Keywords: Prostate cancer; diagnostic intervention; patient safety; service delivery; transperineal biopsy.