title: Management of the dorsal vein complex during radical retropubic prostatectomy.
abstract: An understanding of the prostatic dorsal venous anatomy allows dissection of the prostatic apex in a manner that results in minimal bleeding while preserving the rhabdosphincter, urethra, and neurovascular bundles during radical retropubic prostatectomy. This article reviews the pertinent venous anatomy of the prostatic apex. A surgical technique is described that allows secure venous control and that has resulted in consistently low blood loss and an allogeneic transfusion rate of less than 1% of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014521:Urethra / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply