141 New Guidelines to Reduce Unnecessary Blood Tests, Delayed Discharge and Costs Following Robot Assisted Radical Prostatectomy. (12th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nathan, A; Hanna, N; Rashid, A; Patel, S; Phuah, Y; Flora, K; Fricker, M; Cleaveland, P; Kasivisvanathan, V; Williams, N; Miah, S; Shah, N; Hines, J; Collins, J; Sridhar, A; Kelkar, A; Briggs, T; Kelly, J; Shaw, G; Sooriakumaran, P; Rajan, P; Lamb, B; Nathan, S
• Is Part Of: British journal of surgery. Volume 108:Supplement 6(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10-12
• Subjects: Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.005
• DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znab259.1070
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1323

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Routine postoperative blood tests (POBT) following robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) are used to evaluate the impact of surgery on pre-existing co-morbidities and to detect early complications. This practice dates back to an era of open surgery, when blood loss and complication rates were higher. We propose new guidelines to improve the specificity of POBT. Method: The cases of 1040 consecutive patients who underwent a primary or salvage RARP at two large tertiary urology centres in the United Kingdom were retrospectively reviewed to form new guidelines. The new guidelines were prospectively validated in a sample of 300 patients. Results: Derivation Dataset: 3% and 5% had intra- and post-operative Clavien-Dindo complications, respectively. 15% had clinical concerns postoperatively. 0.9% required perioperative transfusion. 78% had routine blood tests without clinical concerns, none of whom developed a complication. 98% of complications were suspected by clinical judgement. 6% of patients had a discharge delay of ≥ 1 day due to delayed or incomplete blood tests. Validation Dataset: No significant difference existed in complication, clinical concern or transfusion rates between the derivation and validation datasets. Number of POBT requested reduced by 73% (p < 0.001). The new guidelines improved POBT sensitivity for complications from 98% to 100% and specificity from 0% to 74%. Discharge delays reduced from 6% to 0% (p = 0.008). Cost savings were £178 per patient. Conclusions: Postoperative complications and transfusion following RARP are rare. Routine POBT without clinical indication are unnecessary and inefficient. A guideline-based approach to POBT can reduce costs and optimise discharge without compromising patient safety or care.