Optimal Blood Use in Genitourinary Surgery

Abstract
The most commonly performed urologic surgical procedure is transurethral resection of the prostate. The crossmatching and transfusion records of 226 patients who had undergone transurethral prostatectomy from 1977-1979 were reviewed. Only 13 patients (5.8%) received a transfusion. The crossmatched-to-transfused ratio was 21.5. Preoperative ABO-Rh typing and antibody screen are safe and cost-effective alternatives to preoperative crossmatching of blood for uncomplicated transurethral prostatectomy.