Purpose: We investigated differences in the rate of homologous blood transf
usion and the degree of anemia to determine whether it is rational to have
patients donate autologous blood before radical prostatectomy.
Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 221 consec
utive men who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy performed by 1 sur
geon in a 14-month period. About half of the patients donated autologous bl
ood preoperatively. We evaluated perioperative hemoglobin, and the rate of
autologous and homologous transfusion.
Results: The groups did not significantly differ in terms of demographic da
ta, co-morbid conditions, clinical variables or hospitalization. Preoperati
vely mean hemoglobin plus or minus standard deviation was 13.4 +/- 1 and 14
.7 +/- 1 gm./dl. in patients who did and did not donate blood, while homolo
gous transfusion was required in 1 (1%) and 4 (3.5%), respectively (p = 0.1
8). At hospital discharge anemia was more prevalent in nondonors. Of the me
n who did versus did not donate blood hemoglobin was less than 10 and less
than 9 gm./dl. in 8.4% versus 34% (p < 0.0001), and 12.5% versus 0% (p < 0.
0004), respectively.
Conclusions: Our retrospective review of a cohort of patients who underwent
radical retropubic prostatectomy showed no difference in homologous blood
transfusion based on preoperative autologous donation status. Autologous do
nors had lower hemoglobin preoperatively, a higher rate of transfused units
and higher hemoglobin at hospital discharge. Preoperative donation of auto
logous blood may not decrease the need for homologous transfusion in health
y patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy.