TENS During Transperineal Prostate Biopsy (NCT07578324) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
TENS During Transperineal Prostate Biopsy
Poland140 participantsStarted 2026-08-12
Plain-language summary
Transperineal prostate biopsy is a safe and effective method of diagnosing prostate cancer. When performed under local anaesthesia in an outpatient setting, it can cause significant pain, particularly during the periprostatic nerve block - the injection of local anaesthetic around the prostate. Better pain management during this procedure may improve patient comfort and encourage wider use of the transperineal approach.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive, low-cost method of pain relief that works by delivering mild electrical impulses through the skin. A preceding pilot study at our centre (n=84) found that TENS used alongside local anaesthesia was associated with significantly lower pain scores during periprostatic nerve block and biopsy sampling, with no device-related complications.
This study aims to confirm these findings in a larger, formally powered, triple-blind, randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active TENS or sham TENS (electrodes applied but no electrical current delivered) in addition to standard local anaesthesia. Neither the participant nor the operating urologist will know which group the participant is in. Pain scores are written down by the participant himself, so nobody asks him for a number during the procedure. Stimulation may feel strong, weak or not noticeable at all, and feeling nothing does not mean a participant is in the inactive group.
Pain intensity will be assessed at four stages of the procedure using a 0-10 numeric rating scale. Participants will be followed up at 30 days after the biopsy.
Who can participate
Age range
40 Years
Sex
MALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Male patients aged 40 years or older
* Indication for prostate biopsy: elevated serum PSA (as per institutional protocol and EAU guidelines) or abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE)
* Suspicious lesion on multiparametric MRI classified as PI-RADS score 3 or higher (version 2.1)
* Scheduled for transperineal MRI-ultrasound fusion-guided prostate biopsy under local anaesthesia
* Ability to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Prior treatment for prostate cancer (surgical, radiotherapy, hormonal or focal therapy)
* Contraindications to TENS: cutaneous damage or dermatologic conditions at electrode application sites; cardiac pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD); uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia or congestive heart failure; history of epilepsy or seizure disorder; metallic implants near the stimulation site; malignancy at or near the stimulation site
* Contraindications to transperineal biopsy: active urinary tract infection; bleeding disorder or ongoing anticoagulation not amendable to bridging; anatomical abnormalities preventing safe prostatic access
* Known allergy or intolerance to local anaesthetic agents or biopsy-related materials
* Severe comorbidities or unstable medical condition compromising procedural safety
* Inability to complete questionnaires
* Participation in another interventional clinical trial within 30 days prior to enrolment
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial is testing whether TENS — a device that sends electrical pulses through the skin — can reduce pain during the periprostatic nerve block part of a transperineal prostate biopsy, so could you explain what that nerve block normally feels like and how much pain relief it typically provides on its own?
2Since this trial is listed as 'not yet recruiting,' do you know when it's expected to open, and would waiting for it to start delay my biopsy in a way that could affect my care?
3The study is measuring pain using a numerical rating scale during the nerve block injection itself — does that mean TENS would only be active during that specific moment, or throughout the whole biopsy procedure?
4Transperineal biopsies already have some advantages over the traditional approach in terms of infection risk — would joining this trial change anything about how my biopsy is done beyond adding the TENS device, and could it affect those existing benefits?
5If I don't join this trial, what pain management options are already available to me during a transperineal prostate biopsy, and do you think they're usually adequate?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
NRS Pain Score During Periprostatic Nerve Block
Timeframe: Immediately after completion of periprostatic nerve block (intraoperative)