THROMBOEMBOLIC COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING RA DICAL PROSTATECTOMY - PREVENTION BY INTERMITTENT SEQUENTIAL COMPRESSION (ISC)

Methods to reduce postoperative thromboembolic complications were stud ied in 515 consecutive patients with radical prostatectomy. In the fir st 352 patients, perioperative prophylactic management included low-do se heparin, compression stockings, dorsiflexion exercises and early mo bilisation. In this group, 12 (3.4%) patients developed thromboembolic complications: 12 (3.4%) deep vein thromboses, and 5 (1.4%) consecuti ve pulmonary emboli. No thromboembolic complication was seen in the se cond group of 163 patients whose intraoperative management involved th e external sequential compression device in addition to the prevention modalities mentioned previously. The intraoperative blood loss rose w ith ISC from 1216 ml to 1495 ml, perioperative transfusions were incre ased by approximately 1.1 units per patient with the device. Despite t he lack of randomisation, the results indicate that intraoperative int ermittent sequential compression of the legs can decrease the rate of intraoperative deep vein thromboses and is thus a supplement to low-do se heparin treatment in patients undergoing RRP.