RISK OF HEMORRHAGE FROM TRANSURETHRAL PROSTATECTOMY IN ACETYLSALICYLIC-ACID AND NSAID-TREATED PATIENTS

Postoperative bleeding in patients who regularly ingest acetylsalicyli c acid (ASA) has been reported after several types of surgery. However , data on the influence of ASA on the risk of haemorrhage from transur ethral prostatectomy (TUR-P) have been conflicting. We have studied re trospectively the unselected clinical records of all patients undergoi ng TUR-P in the Department of Urology at Hvidovre Hospital (during 199 2-1994) with special focus on the use of ASA and non-steroidal antiinf lammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In total, 457 records were examined: 99 pati ents on ASA/NSAID received 42 units of blood, while 358 patients free from such medication received 68 units of blood, a significantly small er amount (p = 0.0390). We conclude that ASA and NSAIDs increase the r isk of bleeding during and after TUR-P, and we recommend the withdrawa l of these drugs for one week before TUR-P.