Autologous blood donation in elective surgery of colorectal cancer – is it possible?

Abstract

Reports from recent studies indicate a causal relationship between all transfusion, infectious complications and recurrent disease in surgical patients. The aim of the presented study is to elucidate the possibilities and indications for autologous haemotransfusion in the elective surgery of the colorectal cancer. Retrospective analysis was per formed over 724 electively operated patients with colorectal cancer. The prospective part includes observation of 20 radically operated patients. In these patients autologous haemotransfusion was per - formed. As indications for autologous haemotransfusion we consider age up to 80 years, hemoglobin levels at least 130 g/l, plasma protein > 65 g/l, body weight > 50 kg, good general condition and absence of decompensated cardiovascular or endocrine dis eases. In two patients with hemoglobin level between 90 – 110 g/l we per formed stimulation by means of Erythropoietin. According to retrospective data ad mission hemoglobin levels varies from 54 g/l to 175 g/l (mean 119 g/l ± 22, 6). From all electively operated patients 33, 9% had hemoglobin values over 130 g/l. The frequency of post-operative infectious complications increases from 9.1% in non-transfused patients to 38,7 % in patients with more than 4 units of allogenic blood trans fused. The prospective part of the study is designed to establish feasibility of the autologous haemotransfusion in clinical practice. The fall of hemoglobin values on the next day after donation varies from 11g/l to 19g/l (mean 15.5 g/l ± 2,19). Erythropoietin stimulation was not found to increase hemoglobin values significantly. There were no complications in the post-operative period in autologous haemotransfusion group with exception of one superficial wound infection. Autologous haemotransfusion is feasible in approximately 1/3 of electively operated patients with colorectal cancer with no ad verse effects or post-operative complications. It de creases the necessity of allogenic bioproducts and hence the risks related. Autologous haemotransfusion is easy to perform and propose ben e fits both from medical and logistic nature. Concerning to stimulation with Erythropoetin in our opinion it is without proven short term efficacy in general surgery so far.