Predictive factors of hemorrhagic complications after partial nephrectomy

ObjectivesTo identify the predictive factors of hemorrhagic complications (HC) in a contemporary cohort of patients who underwent partial nephrectomy (PN).Materials and methodsRecords of 199 consecutive patients who underwent PN between 2008 and 2012 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. HC was defined as a hematoma requiring transfusion, an arterio-veinous fistula, a false aneurysm or a post-operative decrease of hemoglobin >3 g/dl. Patients with or without HC were compared using Wilcoxon and Fisher exact tests for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. We performed a univariate and multivariate analysis with a logistic regression model using the occurrence of an HC as the dependent variable.Results54% of the patients were male with a median age of 61 (22–86) years. Median BMI was 26 (18–47) kg/m2. Surgery was done open, laparoscopically or with robotic assistance in 106, 54 and 39 cases, respectively. Global complication rate was 40% including 21.6% HC. There were more complex tumors (75.6% vs. 66.5%, p = 0.04) and median length of stay was increased (11 days compared to 7 days, p < 0.0001) in case of a HC. In univariate analysis, imperative indication (p = 0.08), RENAL score (p = 0.07), operating time (p = 0.07) and operative blood loss > 250 ml (p = 0.002) were statistically relevant. In multivariate analysis, only operative blood loss >250 ml was identified as a predictive factor of HC (p = 0.0007).ConclusionPatients who underwent a procedure with estimated blood loss >250 ml should be carefully monitored in the postoperative course.