[Prevention of thromboembolic complications in transurethral resection of the prostate (author's transl)].

1. The effect of 2 X 500 ml Dextran 70 i.v. for prevention of postoperative deep vein thrombosis in patients with transurethral resection of the prostate was investigated in a controlled, prospective and randomized study. The diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis was made by means of the 125I-fibrinogen test. 2. A total of 86 patients were studied. Two out of 47 in the control group developed deep vein thrombosis and 3 out of 39 in the dextran group. The total number of all thromboembolic complications in the control group is 19.2% as compared to 7.7% in the dextran group. This difference is statistically seen not significant. 3. Dextran prophylaxis showed no side effects. 4. A search of the literature on thromboembolic complications in urology shows the following. The incidence of deep vein thrombosis is general urology is about the same as in general surgery, i.e. every third patient develops deep vein thrombosis. There are no studies which would show that the number of fatal pulmonary emboli can be significantly reduced by any sort of preventive method in urologic patients. 5. The incidence of deep vein thrombosis in open prostatectomies is around 50%. In transurethral resection, however, this figure is between 5 and 10%. But nevertheless there are fatal pulmonary emboli. There exist no studies showing a significant reduction in the incidence of deep vein thrombosis after prostatectomy by any form of prevention. In order to avoid the postthrombotic syndrom and fatal complications, a prevention of thromboembolism seems reasonable, if this form of prevention has minimal side effects.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes