Estimated blood loss underestimates calculated blood loss during radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Objective: To compare the calculated blood loss for radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) with the anesthesiologist's and operating surgeon's estimates of operative blood loss.

Methods: A retrospective review of 52 consecutive patients undergoing RRP between January 1999 and February 2000 was performed. Patient charts were reviewed for preoperative hemoglobin (Hgb(i)), preoperative hematocrit (Hct(i)), body weight (Wt), anesthesiologist's and surgeon's estimated blood loss (EBL(A) and EBL(S)), and postoperative day one morning hemoglobin (Hgb(f)) and hematocrit (Hct(f)).