The effectiveness results were as follows:
The median pain severity at the time of biopsy was 1.95 (standard deviation, SD 0.65) in the no-LA group and 1.53 (SD 0.7) in the LA group and this difference was statistically significant, (p<0.001).
Pain scores were similar at 1 hour after biopsy (no-LA, 1.59 (SD 0.76) versus LA, 1.58(SD 0.76)), but median pain scores for the whole week were significantly lower in the LA group (1.2 (SD 0.28)) than in the no-LA group (1.3 (SD 0.33)), (p=0.0185).
GP visits after biopsy were 7 in the no-LA group and 9 in the LA group (the difference was not statistically significant).
The episodes of adverse effects were:
fever 0 (no-LA) and 1 (LA); pain 1 (no-LA) and 1 (LA); bleeding 5 (no-LA) and 5 (LA); other adverse effects 2 (no-LA) and 5 (LA).
The median number of days with haematuria was no-LA 2.3 (SD 2.4) and LA 2.6 (SD 2.4), with haematochezia no-LA 0.36 (SD 0.89) and LA 0.55 (SD 1.1) and with haematospermia no-LA 0.69 (SD 1.2) and LA 0.65 (SD 1.3).
The percentage of patients who would repeat biopsy was 95% in the no-LA group and 93% in the LA group.
As regards use of analgesics, 7 men in the LA group (9%) used analgesia for 1-3 days, while 8 patients in the no-LA group (14%) used analgesics for 1-6 days.