Effects of intravenous infusion of human prostate tissue substances in dogs

Symptoms of postresection syndromes following transurethral prostatectomy have been associated with a transient increase in serum acid phosphatase due to intraoperative absorption of prostate tissue substances. Factors associated with postoperative syndromes include intraoperative absorption of irrigant solution, intraoperative blood loss, and intraoperative absorption of prostate tissue substance. An animal model was used in this study to determine the isolated physiologic effects of intravenous infusion of a saline prostate tissue extract using an infusion schedule comparable to that of transurethral prostate resection. Twenty-four animals received either normal saline infusion (control) or saline prostate tissue extract infusion (experimental). The experimental group showed a significant decrease in fibrinogen, platelet count, white blood count, activated clotting time, and plasma volume. These results suggest that the isolated effects of intravascular absorption of prostate tissue substances are due to disseminated intravascular coagulation, most likely resulting from tissue thromboplastin and activation of plasminogen.