Coagulopathies in Patients After Transurethral Resection of the Prostate

Low PAI-1 activity in relation to the risk for perioperative bleeding complications in transurethral resection of the prostate

INTRODUCTION

Low levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) have been associated with increased risk for perioperative bleeding in some case reports. The aim of this study was to investigate prospectively whether low PAI-1 activity increases the risk for perioperative bleeding in patients undergoing transurethral resection of prostate, an organ with high fibrinolytic activity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

62 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia planned for transurethral resection were included. Blood samples for PAI-1 were taken together with other routine preoperative blood samples 1week before surgery but analyzed after the hospitalization. The intraoperative blood loss was determined by measuring the amount of hemoglobin in the irrigating fluid. The postoperative blood loss was estimated from calculations of hemoglobin mass (Hb mass), which is a product of hemoglobin concentration and blood volume. Hb mass was calculated before surgery and on the day of discharge, and was adjusted for intraoperative blood loss and transfused Hb mass. Bleeding complications were defined as re-operation due to bleeding, more than 40ml intraoperative bleeding/g resected prostatic tissue or postoperative blood loss corresponding to more than 100g of hemoglobin.

RESULTS

Bleeding complications were observed in 3 of 4 (75%) patients with low PAI-1 levels, defined as <1U/ml, and in 16 of 58 (28%) patients with PAI-1 levels >1U/ml (P=0.082). After adjustment for resection time, resected prostatic mass and systolic blood pressure this became borderline significant (odds ratio 11.8; 95% confidence interval 1.00-139; P=0.05).

CONCLUSION

Low PAI-1 activity may contribute to the risk of bleeding after transurethral resection of the prostate.

[Anaesthesia and prostate surgery]

OBJECTIVES

To review the current data about anaesthetic management in prostate surgery with special regards on analysis and prevention of specific risks, appropriate anaesthetic procedure keeping with surgery and patient, recognition and treatment of adverse events.

DATA SOURCES AND EXTRACTION

The Pubmed database was searched for articles (1990-2004) combined with references analysis of major articles on the field.

DATA SYNTHESIS

It is strongly recommended to settle germfree urine in the preoperative period. The thromboembolic risk of radical retropubic prostatectomy for cancer parallels lower abdomen oncologic surgery and is prolonged. Preoperative evaluation of cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological and metabolic comorbidity is a source of prognostic information and an essential tool in the management of elderly patients with prostate disease. Extreme patient positioning applied in prostate surgery induces haemodynamic and respiratory changes and are associated with severe muscular and nervous injuries. The laparoscopic access for radical prostatectomy is a growing alternative to the open surgical procedure. Acute normovolaemic haemodilution is a consistent and cost-effective blood conservation strategy in reducing allogenic blood transfusion for radical retropubic prostatectomy. Whether open transvesical or transurethral prostatectomy for treatment of benign hypertrophy depends on the size of the gland: transurethral resection is safe up to 80 g. Intrathecal anaesthesia with a T9 cephalad spread of sensory block, produces adequate conditions for transurethral prostatectomy and allows a rapid diagnosis of irrigating fluid absorption syndrome. In spite of recommended preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis, bacteriemias are frequent during transurethral prostate resection.

Changes in coagulability as measured by thrombelastography following surgery for proximal femoral fracture

The effect of surgery for femoral neck fracture on whole blood coagulation and the relationship of altered coagulation to deep venous thrombosis were investigated in 250 patients. Whole blood coagulation was measured using thrombelastography preoperatively, in the early postoperative period and at 6-week review. Significant hypercoagulability was demonstrated after surgery and persisted to 6-week review. A significant correlation between hypercoagulability and the development of deep venous thrombosis is demonstrated. Hypercoagulability is shown to be a major factor in thrombosis formation following proximal femoral neck fracture surgery.

Transurethral resection of the prostate

Transuretheral resection of prostate (TURP) is a common operation in most hospitals. The patients are elderly and usually have concomitant diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiac and respiratory ailments that increase their perioperative risk. Perioperative morbidity and mortality approaches 20% and 1% respectively. Regional anesthesia, notably spinal anesthesia, offers many advantages over general anesthesia for TURP with some evidence of lower morbidity even though similar mortality rates and overall outcomes are reported for both groups. Procedure-specific complications include TURP syndrome, bladder perforation, primary fibrinolysis, bacteremia, and septicemia. All are associated with significant morbidity and mortality but amenable to early and aggressive therapeutic intervention.

Incidence of perioperative myocardial ischemia in TURP patients

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of new episodes of myocardial ischemia in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

DESIGN

Prospective, nonrandomized study.

SETTING

Veterans Administration medical center.

PATIENTS

39 patients undergoing elective TURP.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Myocardial ischemia was detected with a 3-channel ambulatory ECG recorded. The ambulatory ECG recorder was applied preoperatively and removed when the patient left the recovery room. New myocardial ischemia was defined as a 1 mm or greater ST depression or a 2 mm or greater ST elevation from baseline, lasting for 1 minute or longer in at least one lead at the J point plus 60 msec unless this point fell within the T wave, in which case the J point 40 msec or greater was used. ST changes consistent with myocardial ischemia were confirmed by a cardiologist blinded to the patient's clinical course. Seven of 39 TURP patients (18%) had ST segment changes indicative of new myocardial ischemia. These seven patients had more prostate tissue resected and more blood loss than the 32 patients who did not have any myocardial ischemia (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing TURP have an 18% incidence of myocardial ischemia. Patients undergoing TURP with more prostate tissue resected and greater blood loss are at increased risk for perioperative myocardial ischemia.