Lymph Leakage After Staging Pelvic Lymphadenectomy for Prostatic Carcinoma with and Without Heparin Prophylaxis

The effect of heparin prophylaxis on lymph leakage and lymphocele formation was observed in a randomized, prospective, consecutive study of 48 patients undergoing lymph node dissection for staging carcinoma of the prostate. Subcutaneous lowdose heparin was given to 24 patients, and 24 without heparin prophylaxis constituted the control group. Lymph leakage per day was significantly greater and the leakage period longer in the heparin group than in the controls. The total of leaked lymph was notably greater and the incidence of lymphocele seven times higher in the heparin group than in the controls. All lymphoceles disappeared spontaneously in the first postoperative year. The results suggest high risk of prolonged lymph leakage and of lymphocele formation when low-dose heparin prophylaxis is given to patients undergoing a staging operation for prostatic carcinoma.