RADICAL RETROPUBIC PROSTATECTOMY - LIMITED BENEFIT OF AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD DONATION

Purpose: We determine whether autologous blood donation significantly decreases the need for homologous transfusions after radical prostatec tomy. Materials and Methods: The effects of estimated blood loss and a utologous donation on the rate of homologous transfusions were analyze d in 3 groups of 100 consecutive patients treated between 1983 and 199 2. Results: Overall, donors were less likely than nondonors to receive homologous blood. As median estimated blood loss decreased from 1,200 to 800 cc from groups 1 to 3 (p < 0.05), the incidence of nondonors r equiring homologous blood decreased from 62 to 11% and that of autolog ous units transfused decreased from 96 to 19%. Conclusions: With decre asing blood loss, safe but stringent criteria for transfusion and impr oved safety of the blood supply, autologous donation is an inefficient method to lower the slight risk of complications following homologous transfusion during radical prostatectomy.