It's no secret that one of the most common diseases in men is prostatitis. But in order for the disease not to progress and in order to avoid such negative consequences as adenoma or infertility in the future, it is necessary that the treatment be started on time. And only a properly performed diagnosis of this organ can help in this. And since progress does not stand still, a new one appears to replace the usual ultrasound - TRUS (transrectal examination of the prostate gland).
TRUSI: what is it?
To understand what this examination is, let's start with the very origins of its origin, namely with ultrasound. Ultrasound, or, as it is also called, sonography, forms a picture of the organs located inside the body using a high-frequency ultrasound wave. A feature of this study is that it completely lacks radiation. In addition, it should be borne in mind that, since this examination takes place in real time, it transmits to the monitor screennot only the structure of an organ, but also shows the movement of blood that passes through the blood vessels. Therefore, taking into account all of the above, we can conclude that TRUS is a completely non-invasive medical examination that allows you to clarify the cause of the disease, the condition of the prostate and its glands, as well as prescribe adequate treatment.
Benefits
Today, this type of examination is one of the fundamental standards in ultrasound examination of the prostate gland. Its difference from a standard ultrasound examination is that the probe will be as close as possible to the organ itself, which will allow you to receive the most clear and reliable information.
Answering the question: "TRUS examination - what is it?", there are several more advantages. These include:
- Its highly accessible and informative.
- Safety as this study completely eliminates the use of ionizing radiation.
- The almost complete absence of contraindications and negative consequences, which allows you to use it an unlimited number of times.
In addition, during this examination, it is possible to perform a biopsy, that is, to take a small sample of cells for further research.
Indications
TRUS of the prostate, due to its specificity, can also be used in patients with excessive fat deposits in the abdominal region, astransabdominal examination (through the abdomen), there will be certain difficulties associated with the passage of the signal through fatty tissue.
Also, one of the most common indications for TRUS is:
- Determining the presence of possible pathologies.
- Determination of the size of the prostate gland, which is one of the necessary elements for the appointment of an effective treatment regimen.
- Carrying out diagnostic measures related to the detection of abnormal neoplasms within the prostate.
- Male infertility.
What symptoms might cause this examination?
Also TRUS of the prostate is used in conjunction with the following symptoms:
- Prostate cancer suspected.
- Elevated PSA.
- Difficulty urinating.
- Constant feeling of full bladder.
- Serious abnormalities in blood and urine tests.
- Various pain in the perineum.
- Identification of seals in the prostate, found during its palpation.
TRUS examination: preparation and recommendations
As practice shows, for the most accurate information obtained with the help of this examination, preliminary preparation of the patient is needed. It should begin with the exclusion from your diet of products that can cause increased formation of gases. These include beans, peas,cabbage, yeast pastries or pasta. In addition, you should limit as much as possible the intake of fresh fruits (grapes, plums, green apples), as well as highly carbonated drinks and alcohol. To make the preparation for TRUS of the prostate as complete as possible, you need to include boiled chicken meat, fish, boiled vegetables, soup and liquid cereals in your menu.
It is especially important that the evening meal is no later than 18. Further, after an hour or an hour and a half has passed, you need to take activated charcoal, calculating its amount based on 1 tab. per 10 kg of weight. If desired, instead of activated carbon, you can use stronger sorbents (preparations "Polyphepan", "Polysorb"), which must be taken strictly according to the instructions.
In addition, preparation for TRUS consists in conducting a cleansing enema. It is also especially worth noting that in the morning it is strictly forbidden to eat, only a few sips of water are allowed. Be prepared for the fact that the doctor may ask you to bring a condom with you to the examination, which is best to buy for transrectal ultrasound.
As practice shows, most men need special psycho-emotional training. After all, it has been scientifically proven that any emotional experiences, such as fear, can cause severe pain during the entire procedure. Therefore, if it is not possible to calm down in the traditional way, you can take a mild sedative drug. As an example, we can cite the means "Persen" or "Novopassit".
What does a TRUS device look like
To better understand how TRUS is made, let's look at what this device looks like. The scanner itself includes a console, which includes a computer, a video screen and the sensor itself, used to examine the condition of internal organs and blood vessels. Also one of the most important components of this device is a transducer that sends high frequency sound waves into the body and receives them back. The ultrasound image can be observed on a screen located nearby and in appearance resembling a TV screen.
How is the examination going?
As a rule, TRUS is an examination that lasts no more than 15–20 minutes. It begins with the fact that the patient is asked to lie on his left side, pull his knees to his chest and try to relax. After that, the doctor puts a condom on the transrectal sensor and lubricates it with gel. Then it is very gently inserted into the rectum. The maximum depth can be up to 7 cm, but at the same time, as a rule, the patient has no pain at all.
During the TRUS of the prostate, special signals are sent through the wall of the rectum by the transducer, followed by scanning of the response image. Concerns should be caused by signals that indicate that the prostate is enlarged in size, has a heterogeneous structure and fullness of the arteries or veins. All the nuances are recorded in the study protocol with further transfer to the attending physician.
After the TRUS of the prostate is completed, a specialist conducts a study of seminalbubbles. Normally, they should be with a homogeneous structure and echogenicity (the so-called ability of tissues to reflect sounds). In addition, the expansion of the lumen of the bubbles can also cause concern, but this phenomenon can also be observed in the case of prolonged abstinence. Therefore, the patient must either confirm or deny this point.
How does it feel during the procedure?
As practice shows, all ultrasound examinations performed on an open area of the body practically do not cause any inconvenience. Therefore, if there is no need for a biopsy, then the sensations of a TRUS will be similar to a standard ultrasound procedure. If a biopsy is necessary, there may be slight discomfort, but it usually disappears quickly.
When TRUS is contraindicated
We have already described what TRUS examinations are, that this is a practical, painless examination. But even here there are certain limitations under which its implementation is impossible. This category includes men with a removed rectum, which causes some difficulty with the introduction of the probe. In addition, this procedure is not recommended for patients with hemorrhoids in the acute phase. But given that the percentage of men with such a problem is very small, we can safely say that there are no contraindications for TRUS.
