Reducing blood loss in open radical retropubic prostatectomy with prophylactic periprostatic sutures.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the placement of small-calibre, rapidly absorbed prophylactic periprostatic sutures before the mobilization of the prostate could reduce blood loss during open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP).


METHODS
In 2007, during open RRP, we began placing prophylactic haemostatic sutures of 4-0 and 3-0 plain catgut in the anterior portions of the distal neurovascular bundles (NVBs) and lateral to the proximal NVBs and prostate pedicles before initiating the nerve-sparing dissection and mobilizing the prostate gland. To evaluate whether this reduced intraoperative blood loss, we compared estimated blood loss (EBL), non-autologous transfusion rates, and postoperative haemoglobin (Hb) levels between 100 consecutive patients treated immediately before and 100 consecutive patients treated immediately after the adoption of the prophylactic periprostatic suture technique.


RESULTS
Before the use of prophylactic haemostatic sutures, the mean intraoperative blood loss was 1285 mL, and one patient (1%) received an intraoperative non-autologous transfusion. After the adoption of prophylactic sutures, the mean EBL was 700 mL (P < 0.001), and there were no transfusions. The mean Hb concentration the morning after RRP was 10.9 g/dL before and 11.8 g/dL after the initiation of prophylactic haemostatic sutures (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Prophylactic periprostatic haemostatic sutures significantly reduce intraoperative blood loss during open RRP.
Carvalhal
Gustavo F
GF
Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Griffin
Christopher R
CR
Kan
Donghui
D
Loeb
Stacy
S
Catalona
William J
WJ
D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013537:Sutures; D016896:Treatment Outcome