THE EFFECT OF SEQUENTIAL COMPRESSION DEVICES ON INTRAOPERATIVE BLOOD-LOSS DURING RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY

We reviewed 109 consecutive patients undergoing radical retropubic pro statectomy to determine the effect of intermittent pneumatic compressi on devices on intraoperative blood loss. Sequential compression device s were used intraoperatively and perioperatively in 86 patients, while 23 underwent surgery without these devices. There were no identifiabl e selection factors between the 2 groups. Median intraoperative blood loss was 885 cc without sequential compression devices and 800 cc when they were used. These results are at odds with previous reports in th e urological literature and suggest that anatomical control of the dor sal vein complex negates any potential influence of sequential compres sion devices on blood loss during radical prostatectomy.