Catastrophic sepsis and hemorrhage following transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsies

Abstract

We report 2 cases of catastrophic complications following routinetransrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy. The first patientincurred near-fatal septic shock due to multi-resistant Escherichiacoli. Due to the severity of his shock, he developed bilateral leggangrene requiring amputations. The second patient incurred significanthemorrhage eventually requiring an emergent generalanesthesia and surgical management to control hemorrhage afterother measures failed. While rare events, these reports emphasizethe caution needed for physicians who routinely order prostatebiopsies.