• E Frank, O P Sood, M Torjman, S G Mulholland, and L G Gomella.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
• J Surg Oncol. 1998 Feb 1;67(2):117-20.

Background And ObjectivesWe retrospectively examined the effects of epidural analgesia on patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP).MethodsPatients (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).ResultsThere 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.ConclusionsEpidural anesthesia and analgesia following radical retropubic prostatectomy have demonstrated a number of beneficial effects. These include decreased blood loss and shorter hospital stay.

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