Prostate Biopsy

Thank you for choosing Premier Medical Group. We realize that it is a privilege to take care of you and will do our best to make the experience surrounding this procedure as pleasant and as easy as possible.

Prior to Prostate Biopsy

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All patients undergoing prostate biopsy will have an antibiotic prescription electronically sent to their pharmacy. The antibiotic will need to be taken as ordered by your physician.

An over-the-counter enema will need to be taken 3 hours prior to the procedure.

While most (greater than 90%) patients undergo prostate biopsy under local anesthesia, Premier Medical Group can provide intravenous sedation on select days at our Kingston, Newburgh and Poughkeepsie locations.  Please notify your doctor if you require this method.  Whether you are having your biopsy with or without sedation YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE. YOUR RIDE MUST WAIT IN THE WAITING ROOM.

One week, 7 days, prior to the procedure, please stop all blood-thinners (this may be coordinated with your other physicians).

  • Aspirin (both 81mg or regular strength)
  • Dipyridamole
  • Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate)
  • Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), Naprosyn (Aleve), Celebrex
  • Multivitamins, fish oil and all supplements

Stop 5 days prior to procedure – Warfarin (Coumadin). You must have PT, PTT and INR levels checked day before biopsy. You may be placed on Lovenox, a prescribed blood thinner that is injected, in place of your warfarin.  If so, this should be stopped 24 hours before the operation.

Pradaxa should be discussed with your cardiologist prior to the procedure at the time of obtaining clearance as appropriate.

Day of Prostate Biopsy Procedure

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When you arrive at the office, you will be greeted by one of Premier Medical Group’s nurses who will escort you to the procedure area.  You will be asked to remove all your clothes as appropriate for the procedure.

When the nurse returns you will be escorted to the OR bed and positioned.

An ultrasound probe will be gently placed into the rectum.  This allows your physician to evaluate the size of the prostate, the appearance of the prostate, while directing the physician obtaining the prostate biopsies of specific locations.

After the Procedure

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After prostate biopsy, it is not uncommon to have blood in the stool, blood in the urine, and/or blood in the semen.  While blood in the semen can last 4 weeks, these other symptoms typically resolve in just a few days.  If you notice that these symptoms are not improving daily or if you develop a fever (temperature >100.5 degrees), shaking chills, severe nausea such that you cannot keep anything down, or are unable to urinate,  please call the office at (845) 437-5000.

It is important to relax at home the day of the procedure and for one additional day.  You may then resume work and regular activities but should avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for 1 week.  It is advised that you avoid ejaculation for 1 week after the procedure.

Most patients find additional relief with a warm bath the evening of the procedure.

You will be scheduled for a follow up appointment to discuss the pathology results. The biopsy specimens require sophisticated processing and then need to be individually read by a pathologist.  For this reason, the results are not typically available for up to 2 weeks. While we understand that waiting for these results can provoke anxiety, we have found it best to discuss these results only in-person.

Summary

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Please note that every patient recovers differently from a procedure.  These guidelines are intended for general reference.  Please discuss your individual case with your doctor.

Our office is open from 8:30am – 5:00pm EST to assist you.  Should an off hours emergency arise, please call (845) 437-5000 and ask for the doctor on-call.

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