RENAL CELL CARCINOMA METASTASIS OF THE SPINE: BLEEDING CONTROL METHODS

ABSTRACT Objective: This report compares various methods of bleeding control, and their influence on outcome and survival after decompression procedures for spinal metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (MRCC). Methods: A retrospective study. All patients underwent palliative decompression procedures. We compared 3 groups of patients stratified by methods of bleeding control. The first group (EMB) included 22 patients who underwent preoperative embolization of a tumor. The second group (HEM) consisted of 20 patients, treated surgically using intraoperative local hemostatic agents. In the third group (COMBI) 15 patients were treated with a combination of methods. Results: The average intraoperative blood loss for the EMB group was slightly less than the average for the HEM and COMBI groups, but without significant differences. The postoperative drainage loss in the HEM and COMBI groups was significantly less than in EMB group. The complication rate (infections, hematomas, neurological deficit) was practically equal in all groups. No statistically significant differences in local tumor recurrence and overall survival were found between groups. Conclusions: The overall results did not show that usage of different bleeding control methods can affect early or long-term outcomes. Level of Evidence III; retrospective study.