Prostatectomy can be performed via several approaches, but the main problem concerns haemostasis before, during and after prostatectomy. A first series of 187 cases of retropubic prostatectomy was performed, between 1980 and 1989, by bilateral ligation of the genitovesical arteries, associated with suture-ligation of the periprostatic veins prior to prostatic resection. In a second series of 50 cases (1990-1992), the same technique was applied, but with temporary clamping instead of ligation of the 2 genitovesical arteries. This method of haemostasis allowed us to operate in a relatively bloodless field (blood loss less than 150 mL in 80% of cases), prevented immediate or secondary postoperative haemorrhages and simplified the postoperative surveillance.