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Blood Transfusions During Surgery

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Posted 11/20/2008 5:13 AM (GMT 0)
In the time I've been on the forum (two-plus years) I can't remember reading that anyone had a blood transfusion during prostate-removal surgery.

Did any of your get blood? If so, how much?  Did you bank your own blood (autologous units) ahead of time?

I asked my surgeon if he wanted me to donate my own blood ahead of the surgery and he said, "No, we won't need it."  As it turned out I lost some blood during open RPP, but didn't need to be transfused.

Posted 11/20/2008 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
I keep forgetting to ask my surgeon about my complications that required a transfusion. He told my sister while I was in recovery something about having larger then expected blood vessels etc... One of the advantageous of robotic surgery over the conventional method is the small amount of blood loss…Or so they say.
Posted 11/20/2008 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
I was told SOMEWHERE that it is actually a good sign where your surgeon doesn't ask you to bank blood for a RP.  Means he hasn't had bad experiences.

Posted 11/20/2008 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
Well...I wanted to donate blood prior to my surgery, but my surgeon said it wouldn't be needed. Day after surgery I had to have two units of blood...go figure.
Posted 11/20/2008 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
I was told that it was not necessary to donate your own blood. I forget the number but it was some high number of so many operations the doc had done and never required blood. So, it was going to be statistically a very small chance to need blood. If it were needed there was blood available (not my own). I did not require additional blood.

RB
Age 61 (now 62)
Original data - pre-operation
PSA: 5.1
T1C clinical diagnosis, Needle biopsy - 10 cores, Gleason 7 = 3+4 in 1 core (40%), 7 cores Gleason 6 = 3+3 ranging from 5% to 12%
All scans negative
Lupron administered 4/9/2008 for 4 months (with idea I would undergo external beam radiation followed by seed implants - then I changed my mind).
Robotic DiVinci surgery - Dr. Fagin (Austin) May 19th
Post operative - pathology
pT2c NX MX
Gleason 3+4
Margins - negative
Extraprostatic extension - negative
seminal vesicle invasion - uninvolved
1st Post PSA <.04
2nd Post PSA <.1 10/30/2008
Posted 11/20/2008 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
In my recent surgery, was told to expect one to two tranfusions, but ended up needing zero, though there was blood loss, was asked not to bank any blood ahead of time

David in SC
Posted 11/20/2008 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
No transfusions here, though my Urologist did ask If I wanted to donate a couple of pints just in case.
Posted 11/20/2008 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
My doc said I didn't need to stock any blood, but my getting out of the recovery room was delayed due to unexpected blood loss, due to the 110 gm. gland to remove and the extra blood loss dealing with it. My pressure dropped out the bottom for a while, but I didn't get a transfusion. I did have to take iron pills for a couple months after (uck!)
Posted 11/21/2008 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tim G. I asked my Dr if I needed to bank my own blood. He gave me his low percentages of the need for blood and he was right, I didn't need any.

Mika
Posted 11/21/2008 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
    My Doctor did not anticipate much blood loss during my (open) RRP.  Unfortunately I did develop a bleed the evening after the surgery and ended up needing two units of blood.  I have had a few problems with other proceedures with bleeding issues.  I also seem to bruise (show signs of bleeding) easily after surgical proceedures  So, I may just be an easy bleeder.  I know sometimes I have a heck of a time getting a shaving knick to stop bleeding.  I also have an occasional nose bleed that will take some time to stop.

    Hope this helps,

    KW

Posted 11/21/2008 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
Because I had a hernia mesh problem that the doc was going to have to work around, He was scared I might lose blood. He felt I should donate a pint. Anyway, I didn't use any of it. They told me my blood loss was some very insignificant number.

Posted 11/21/2008 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't need a transfusion, surgeon reported only a 50cc blood loss, I was glad to hear it.

Randy
Posted 11/21/2008 9:09 PM (GMT 0)

Banked two units of my O-negative and needed both for my RRP. Wound up in ICU and ran a very close debate about needing another tranbfusion (someone else's blood) for the first 48 hours after surgery. Luckliy, I made it though with just my own two units.

BillSD

Posted 11/21/2008 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
I had my RP on Sept. 9 of this year.  I had given one pint autologously, but didnt have time to get the second pint in before surgery.  I was given 3 pints during surgery, mine plus 2 others.  Cant say how I feel about that but I am here.  I was still anemic when I was sent home, and was told to take 3 iron pills a day.  I took one a day to keep the constipation at bay until that catheter came out.  Right now, no problems. 

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