INTRODUCTION: Anemia is a common preoperative diagnosis in patients undergoing hysterectomy. In severe cases, perioperative blood transfusion may be necessary. This study describes perioperative risks associated with transfusion around the time of surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing non-emergent hysterectomy between 2012-2014. The primary outcome was a comparison of complications in patients receiving transfusion and those that did not. RESULTS: Among 292 patients who underwent hysterectomy, 30 patients were transfused (10.3%). Factors associated with transfusion were preoperative anemia (10.6 gm/dL in patients requiring transfusion versus 13.0 gm/dL, P < .001), estimated blood loss (425mL vs 200mL, P < .001), and uterine weight (388g vs 100g, P < .001). Patients who received transfusion had a longer length of stay (4 days vs 2 days, P < .001), higher rates of readmission (23.3% vs. 3.4%, P < .001), increased rates of fascial dehiscence (10.0% vs 0.8%, P=.009), more frequent pelvic abscess development (6.7% vs 1.1%, P=.084), more often had venous thromboembolism (6.7% vs 0%, P=.01), and greater need for repeat surgery (13.3% vs 0.8%, P=.001). CONCLUSION: Preoperative anemia places patients undergoing hysterectomy at risk of needing blood transfusion. In this study, blood transfusion was associated with significant perioperative morbidity. Given these findings, aggressive preoperative management of anemia should be strongly considered.
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