[Anesthesia and perioperative care in radical cystectomy]

The results of anesthesia and perioperative assistance on a series of 84 patients who underwent since 1982 to 1990 a one-stage radical cystectomy and urinary diversion are reported. Reduction of the high risk of operation is particularly dependent on preoperative preparation, use of a safe anesthesia technique with continuous evaluation of vital signs, control of blood loss and use of low dose of heparin for prevention of venous thromboembolism. The complication rate was low, 7.1% for the early one, 16.6% for late one. General mortality of 5.9% is dependent on the high average age of the patients and on the fact all the cases were deeply invasive cancer.