Peri-operative blood transfusion in open suprapubic transvesical prostatectomy: relationship with prostate volume and serum total prostate specific aantigen (TPSA).

Introduction: Open simple prostatectomy is the most effective and the most durable method of controlling symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia, especially in sub- Saharan Africa, where TURP set and expertise are unavailable in most health institutions. The risk of perioperative heterologous blood transfusion in open transvesical prostatectomy varies widely from one centre to another, and this risk is documented to improve over time in any given centre.

Aim: To determine the perioperative blood transfusion rate in our centre and to determine its relationship with the prostate volume estimated with transabdominal ultrasonography and serum total PSA.