Venous thromboembolism after surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

A systematic review has been performed on venous thromboembolism after surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The risk of deep vein thrombosis is two to four times higher after open surgery than after transurethral resection. The risk after the newer transurethral methods (laser, radiofrequency, heat) is not known. Specific studies on thromboprophylaxis are few and have limited numbers of patients. Nonetheless, thromboprophylaxis (heparin) reduces the frequency of postoperative deep vein thrombosis after open surgery. Studies on patients undergoing transurethral resection are lacking. Antifibrinolytic treatment to diminish bleeding does not seem to increase the risk of thrombosis.