Radical cystectomy under continuous antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid

Aim of this study was to analyse the perioperative outcome of patients undergoing radical cystectomy under continuous antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid.

Using prospectively maintained databases of two departments of urology, we identified 461 consecutive patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer (2011-2017). Patients were divided into three groups: 1) on-going antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid (n = 50), 2) discontinuing antiplatelet therapy (n = 65) and 3) no antiplatelet therapy (n = 346). Perioperative outcome was compared between the three groups using ANOVA, likelihood ratio or Kruskal Wallis test with post-hoc testing. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictor for perioperative complications and transfusion.

Group 1 showed an average estimated blood loss of 732 ± 424, group 2 752 ± 488 and group 3 810 ± 544 ml (p = 0.51). There was no significant difference in transfusion rate (44% in group 1, 45% and 39% in groups 2 and 3, p = 0.63). Severe complications occurred in 26%, 15% and 15% in groups 1-3 (p = 0.19). Ischemic complications were more often observed in group 1 (n = 4, 8%) and 2 (n = 5, 8%) than group 3 (n = 7, 2%), p = 0.02. 90-day readmission (n = 99, 22%) and mortality rate (n = 10, 2.2%) were low and did not show any significant differences between the groups. In uni- and multivariate analysis ongoing therapy with acetylsalicylic acid was no independent risk factor for transfusion or severe complications.

Perioperative continuation of therapy with acetylsalicylic acid in radical cystectomy is safe with no difference in intraoperative blood loss, transfusion rate, complications or mortality.