R. Tomic et al., LYMPH LEAKAGE AFTER STAGING PELVIC LYMPHADENECTOMY FOR PROSTATIC-CARCINOMA WITH AND WITHOUT HEPARIN-PROPHYLAXIS, Scandinavian journal of urology and nephrology, 28(3), 1994, pp. 273-275
The effect of heparin prophylaxis on lymph leakage and lymphocele form
ation was observed in a randomized, prospective, consecutive study of
48 patients undergoing lymph node dissection for staging carcinoma of
the prostate. Subcutaneous low-dose heparin was given to 24 patients,
and 24 without heparin prophylaxis constituted the control group. Lymp
h leakage per day was significantly greater and the leakage period lon
ger in the heparin group than in the controls. The total of leaked lym
ph was notably greater and the incidence of seven times higher in the
heparin group than in the controls. All lymphoceles disappeared sponta
neously in the first postoperative year. The results suggest high risk
of prolonged lymph leakage and of lymphocele formation when low-dose
heparin prophylaxis is given to patients undergoing a staging operatio
n for prostatic carcinoma.