Effect of mini-dose heparin on lymphocele formation following extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy

To evaluate the effect of mini-dose heparin therapy on lymphocele formation after extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy we reviewed the records of 38 patients undergoing this procedure for prostatic cancer during a 24-month period. All patients had a minimum of 6 months of followup. Lymphoceles occurred in 3 of 8 patients (38 per cent) receiving mini-dose heparin and prolonged lymph drainage occurred in 1 other patient (12 per cent). In contrast, only 1 of 30 patients (3 per cent) not receiving mini-dose heparin had a lymphocele and 1 (3 per cent) had prolonged lymph drainage. The results suggest that mini-dose heparin may delay clotting of lymph and, thus, may be associated with an increased incidence of lymphocele formation after extraperitoneal lymphadenectomy.