ABSTRACT
The volume of blood loss during prostatic resection [TURP] is determined by a number of factors. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the independent effect of a general or a spinal anaesthetic on the amount of intraoperative blood loss. A total of 110 patients treated by TURP, were entered in to a prospective study. The mean age of the patients was 71 years [range 45-91]. Sixty-six patients [60%] received a spinal and 44 [40%] had a general anaesthetic; 80% of resections were benign and 20% for malignant disease. The mean resected weight was 29.7grams [range 3-100] and the mean resection time was 28.9 minutes [range 5 - 60]. The volume of blood loss was calculated by a well described method and the mean loss was 319mls [range 6 - 1587]. The mean weight of the resected prostate tissue and the volume of blood loss was significantly high in patients who had received a spinal anaesthetic [p=0.001 and p=0.005 respectively]. However, when the independent i nfluence of the type of anaesthesia and the resected weight on blood loss was analysed, it was found that the former had no significant effect [p=0.28] whereas the later influenced very significantly [p<0.001]. Blood transfusion requirement was similar in both groups and no hypotensive episodes were recorded. Although previous studies have suggested that spinal anaesthesia reduces blood loss during prostatic resection, however, the present study fails to confirm this association