[Complications of transrectal prostate biopsy. Determination of current status].

The procedure for prostate biopsy has undergone a dramatic change in the last 2 decades. The introduction of PSA into diagnostics for prostate carcinoma and simultaneous development of modern biopsy techniques have led to a marked increase in transrectal prostate biopsies. At the same time, serious complications have become less frequent. Grave complications after biopsy include septic complications (approximately 1%), rectal hemorrhages (approximately 0.1%), and ischurias (0.5%). Less severe complications such as occurrence of fever without septic signs account for 3.5%. One of the frequent complications that usually do not require treatment is gross hematuria, which is observed in nearly 50% of all patients. The same applies to hematospermia with a similar frequency.In the rare cases of the altogether serious complications after prostate biopsy, appropriate action is essential. All in all, prostate biopsy nowadays represents a safe diagnostic procedure with few complications and an extraordinarily high level of usefulness for everyday urological practice.