Predictive factors of hemorrhagic complications after partial nephrectomy

Objectives: To identify the predictive factors of hemorrhagic complications (HC) in a contemporary cohort of patients who underwent partial nephrectomy (PN).

Materials and methods: Records 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.

Results: 54% of the patients were male with a median age of 61 (22-86) years. Median BMI was 26 (18-47) kg/m(2). 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).

Conclusion: Patients who underwent a procedure with estimated blood loss >250 ml should be carefully monitored in the postoperative course.