Screening Postoperative Hemoglobin after Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy-Frequently Used, but Is It Necessary?

INTRODUCTION

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy is associated with low rates of postoperative transfusion and hemorrhage. At our institution the decision to obtain screening hemoglobin testing after uncomplicated robot-assisted radical prostatectomy is left to surgeon discretion. It is unknown whether this testing represents high value care. We assessed the prevalence and clinical utility of hemoglobin testing after uncomplicated robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy between 2002 and 2016. Patients transfused intraoperatively were excluded. Demographic and perioperative data were reviewed. In patients requiring blood transfusion and/or with hemorrhage clinical signs/symptoms of anemia were reviewed. The primary endpoint was rate of routine postoperative hemoglobin testing. Secondary endpoints included rates of postoperative transfusion and hemorrhage, rates of signs/symptoms of anemia in patients transfused postoperatively and/or with hemorrhage.

RESULTS

A total of 3,405 patients were identified of whom 73.8% (2,514) underwent postoperative hemoglobin testing. Mean change relative to preoperative hemoglobin was -2.7±1.0 gm/dl with 10.2% (256) and 3.5% (87) experiencing a decrease in hemoglobin 4 gm/dl or greater and postoperative hemoglobin 10 gm/dl or less, respectively. Of patients undergoing at least 1 postoperative hemoglobin test subsequent testing was prompted for 13.4% (337). Of patients transfused (1.7%, 58) and/or with postoperative hemorrhage (1.5%, 48) with records available for review (46), 95.7% (44) had clinical signs/symptoms of anemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that routine hemoglobin testing after uncomplicated prostatectomy should be performed when clinically indicated rather than as routine practice.