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Postoperative epidural analgesia following radical retropubic prostatectomy: outcome assessment
Author(s) -
Frank Evan,
Sood Om P.,
Torjman Marc,
Mulholland S. Grant,
Gomella Leonard G.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9098(199802)67:2<117::aid-jso8>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - medicine , radical retropubic prostatectomy , prostatectomy , anesthesia , blood loss , surgery , prostate , cancer
Background and Objectives: We retrospectively examined the effects of epidural analgesia on patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). Methods Patients (203) underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy under either general or epidural anesthesia alone or a combined general epidural technique. Of those, 143 had an epidural catheter placed and underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy under general anesthesia followed by postoperative epidural analgesia (Group E+G). Twenty‐eight patients had the operation under epidural anesthesia followed by epidural analgesia in the postoperative period (Group E). Thirty‐two patients had general anesthesia for the operation and postoperative systemic analgesia (Group G). Results There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to age, height, weight, ASA status, or operation time. The length of postoperative hospital stay was significantly longer in the general anesthesia group patients as compared to the other two groups ( P < 0.05). Intraoperative blood loss and blood replacement were significantly higher in the general anesthesia group ( P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to return of bowel function postoperatively, or incidence of complications. Conclusions Epidural anesthesia and analgesia following radical retropubic prostatectomy have demonstrated a number of beneficial effects. These include decreased blood loss and shorter hospital stay. J. Surg. Oncol. 1998:67:117–120. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.