Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Haemodialysis due to Sepsis Complicating Transrectal Ultrasound Guided Needle Biopsy of the Prostate

Transrectal ultrasound guided needle biopsy of the prostate is deemed a routine procedure however life threatening complications can result. Sepsis after transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy is considered a serious complication and when it occurs it has been treated aggressively with the use of parenteral antibiotics such as meropenem with success. Though septic shock from sepsis post transrectal ultrasound needle biopsy of the prostate has potential for causing renal dysfunction, an overt severe acute kidney injury requiring haemodialysis is uncommon. This case report is that of a 60 year old man with a history of diabetic mellitus and hypertension who developed severe acute kidney injury requiring seventeen sections of haemodialysis due to septic shock after transrectal ultrasound guided needle biopsy of the prostate. The histology revealed no evidence of malignancy. Transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy of the prostate when complicated by sepsis in patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension, the possibility of a persistent and severe acute kidney injury should be anticipated and aggressive resuscitation including early commencement of haemodialysis instituted to salvage the situation.