THE SOUTH WEST CANCER ALLIANCE MOVES TOWARDS ERADICATION OF ‘TRUS’ PROSTATE CANCER BIOPSY

Bristol Urological Institute has hosted the first regional training course to teach the latest method of transperineal prostate cancer diagnosis

As part of a national campaign (TRExit) to completely remove transrectal prostate biopsies from the prostate cancer pathway, the first regional training course on freehand transperineal biopsies (LA TP) in the South West of England has taken place.

On Saturday 11th January, Professor Raj Persad and Mr Stefanos Bolomytis hosted the PrecisionPoint™ Transperineal Access System Workshop at the Bristol Urological Institute at Southmead Hospital. The workshop, aimed at urologists, oncologists and others involved in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, teaches the principles of freehand transperineal targeted and systematic prostate biopsies, and how it can be used to enhance the prostate diagnostics, particularly in relation to the two-week wait pathway and to outline the use of MRI/ultrasound fusion.

The TRexit initiative aims to change the existing paradigm of outpatient prostate cancer diagnostics for transrectal prostate biopsies to transperineal biopsies. The initiative is currently backed by 35 leading urologists from around the country, as well as Prostate Cancer UK and the British Association of Urological Nurses (BAUN).

Professor Raj Persad, one of the country’s leading pelvic cancer surgeons, commented: “There are clear benefits of LA PT over TRUS biopsy methods, which include reduced sepsis rates and improved cancer detection, as well as moving general anaesthetic transperineal biopsies out of the operating theatre and into nurse-led local anaesthetic procedures in the outpatient department.”

The Bristol Urological Institute at Southmead Hospital first adopted the LA TP technique in November 2018 and has since used the PrecisionPoint device routinely to carry out procedures. The hospital aims to achieve its own TRExit by March 2020 and across the entire South West (SWAG) Cancer Alliance by the end of the year.

Mr Stefanos Bolomytis, Consultant Urologist at North Bristol NHS Trust, added: “It’s so important to support the move away from TRUS biopsies. The freehand PrecisionPoint system allows transperineal biopsy to be carried out under local anaesthetic in an outpatient setting, while also reducing the risk of infection and improving recovery time. Evidence shows this has a vastly positive impact on both patient experience and hospital resources.”

The feedback from the first workshop was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees showing their eagerness to move to LA TP and confirming the need to eradicate the use of TRUS biopsies. The next South West regional workshop is due to take place in approximately four months time, with a date to be confirmed.

Professor Raj Persad concludes: “I’m delighted to support an initiative which benefits both patients and urology staff. This presents a tangible opportunity for those involved in the diagnosis of prostate cancer to transform the way they perform biopsies. Ultimately, we are striving for better, safer biopsies for prostate cancer patients.”