Preoperative Red Blood Cell Transfusion Research Articles

Use of preoperative erythropoietin-stimulating agents is associated with decreased thrombotic adverse events compared to red blood cell transfusion in surgical patients with anaemia.

Preoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusions increase post-operative venous thromboembolic (VTE) events. Erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) increase VTE risk in cancer patients; we aimed to assess ESA versus RBC-associated VTE risks in a broad population of surgical patients. We queried TriNetX Diamond Network from 2006 to 2023, comparing patients with anaemia within 3 months preoperatively who received preoperative ESAs with or without intravenous (IV) iron to patients who received preoperative RBCs. Sub-analyses included (1) all surgeries and (2) cardiovascular surgeries. We propensity score matched for demographics, comorbidities, medical services, post-treatment haemoglobin (g/dL) and, for all-surgery comparisons, surgery type. Outcomes included 30-day post-operative mortality, VTE, pulmonary embolism (PE), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and haemoglobin. In our 19,548-patient cohorts, compared with preoperative RBC transfusion, ESAs without IV iron were associated with lower mortality (relative risk [RR] = 0.51 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.45-0.59]), VTE (RR = 0.57 [0.50-0.65]) and PE (RR = 0.67 [0.54-0.84]). Post-operative haemoglobin was higher in the ESA without IV iron cohort compared with the transfusion cohort (10.0 ± 1.4 vs. 9.4 ± 1.8 g/dL, p = 0.002). Cardiac surgical patients receiving ESAs with or without IV iron had lower risk for post-operative mortality, VTE and PE (p < 0.001) than those receiving RBCs. Post-operative haemoglobin differed between patients receiving ESAs with IV iron versus RBCs (10.1 ± 1.5 vs. 9.4 ± 1.9 g/dL, p = 0.0009). Compared with surgical patients who were transfused RBCs, ESA recipients had reduced 30-day post-operative risk of mortality, VTE, PE and DIC and increased haemoglobin levels. IV iron given with ESAs improved mortality.

Impact of preoperative red blood cell transfusion on long-term mortality of liver transplantation: A retrospective cohort study.

Preoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusion can induce immune modulation and alloimmunization; however, few studies have investigated the effect of preoperative transfusion and hemoglobin levels that need to be corrected before surgery, especially in critically ill patients such as those with end-stage liver disease who undergo liver transplantation (LT). This study aimed to investigate the effects of preoperative RBC transfusion on long-term mortality in LT recipients. A total of 249 patients who underwent LT at a single center between January 2012 and December 2021 were included in this study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: preoperative transfusion and preoperative non-transfusion. Since the baseline characteristics were significantly different between the 2 groups, we performed propensity score matching, including factors such as the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score and intraoperative RBC transfusion, to exclude possible biases that could affect prognosis. We analyzed the 5-year mortality rate as the primary outcome. The preoperative transfusion group showed a 4.84-fold higher hazard ratio than that in the preoperative non-transfusion group. There were no differences in 30-day mortality, duration of intensive care unit stay, or graft rejection rate between the 2 groups. Preoperative transfusion could influence long-term mortality in LT, and clinicians should pay attention to RBC transfusion before LT unless the patient is hemodynamically unstable. A large-scale randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the possible mechanisms related to preoperative RBC transfusion, long-term mortality, and the level of anemia that should be corrected before surgery.

Pragmatic anesthetic approach for extracranial to intracranial bypass surgery in a patient with moyamoya disease and sickle cell disease: a case report

BackgroundMoyamoya disease is a chronic progressive cerebrovascular disorder. A proportion of 10–20% of patients with sickle cell disease have associated moyamoya disease and may require surgical revascularization as definitive treatment.Case presentationA 22-year-old African lady with sickle cell disease and moyamoya disease, with extensive cerebral vasculopathy, was scheduled for elective extracranial to intracranial bypass surgery. She presented with right-sided weakness secondary to a hemorrhagic stroke of the left lentiform nucleus. She required a multidisciplinary team approach for preprocedural optimization. Her preoperative hemoglobin SS levels were reduced to less than 20%, with preoperative red blood cell transfusion to avoid sickling. We maintained normal physiology and optimal analgesia perioperatively. She was extubated after the successful surgical procedure and was transferred to Intensive care unit (ICU) for invasive monitoring, with subsequent discharge to the ward several days later.ConclusionOptimal preprocedural optimization can decrease complications in patients with critically comprised cerebral circulation booked for extensive surgery such as ECIC bypass. We believe the presentation of anesthetic management of a patient with moyamoya disease and sickle cell disease may prove helpful.

A European survey of patient blood management practice in cardiac surgery

Introduction To describe PBM practices in cardiac surgery in 9 European countries and formulate an expert opinion on the identification and management of main risk factors for bleeding or transfusion. Methods Online survey addressing PBM practices in 2 clinical situations, risk factors, and previous experience with antifibrinolytics; enriched by expert opinion. Results In a non-emergency situation, no respondents would make use of preoperative red blood cell transfusion in an anaemic patient, while cell salvage (89%) and antifibrinolytics (82%) would almost always be used. Haemoglobin level optimization (36%) and use of off-pump techniques (34%), minimally invasive surgery (25%) and modern CPB technologies (mini-bypass:32%; autologous priming: 38%) varied greatly across countries. In an emergency clinical situation, topical haemostatic agents would frequently be used (61%). Tranexamic acid (72%) and aprotinin (20%) were the main antifibrinolytics used, with chosen procedures for aprotinin varying across countries. 5 factors were considered at high risk for bleeding or transfusion by at least 90% of respondents: pre-operative anaemia, prior cardiac surgery, clopidogrel 5 days or less before surgery, use of other P2Y12 inhibitors at any point, and thrombocytopenia Conclusion PBM guidelines are not always implemented in European cardiac surgery centres, resulting in discrepancies in techniques and products used for a given clinical situation. Main risk factors identified in the survey and by the expert opinion matched.

Preoperative Risk Factors for Postoperative Urinary Tract Infection After Primary Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasties

BackgroundEstablishing clear risk factors for complications such as urinary tract infection (UTI) after arthroplasty procedures helps guide clinical practice and provides more information to both surgeons and patients. This study aims to assess selected preoperative patient characteristics as risk factors for postoperative UTI after primary total hip and knee arthroplasties (THA and TKA). MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis using current procedural terminology codes to investigate the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database for patients who underwent THA or TKA from 2010 to 2017. Patients were classified for UTI by NSQIP guidelines. Patient samples with all possible covariates were included for multivariate logistic regression analysis and assessed for independent associations. ResultsIn a cohort of 983 identified patients (983 of 119,096; 0.83%): ages 57+ years, preoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, perioperative RBC transfusion, bleeding disorders, operative time 110+ minutes, preoperative steroid use, diabetes, pulmonary comorbidities, body mass index 30+ kg/m2 were independent risk factors for postoperative UTI after THA. In a cohort of 1503 identified patients (1503 of 189,327; 0.8%): ages 60+ years, preoperative RBC transfusion, perioperative RBC transfusion, anemia, platelets less than 150k, preoperative steroid use, diabetes, and body mass index 30+ kg/m2 were independent risk factors for postoperative UTI after TKA. Male sex was associated with a decreased risk of UTI in both THA and TKA. ConclusionThis study provides novel evidence on risk factors associated with the development of UTI after THA or TKA. Clinicians should be aware of risk factors in the manifestation of postoperative UTI after primary THA or TKA procedures.

Risk factors for major adverse cardiovascular events after osteoporotic hip fracture repair surgery

Osteoporotic hip fracture (OHF) is an increasingly frequent age-related pathology, which results in high rates of functional loss and mortality within the first year after surgery. This study assessed whether preoperative levels of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and troponin I were related to early occurrence (30d) of major adverse cardio-vascular events (MACE) after OHF repair surgery. During a 6-month period, perioperative clinical and analytical data from consecutive patients, without known history of cardiovascular disease and undergoing surgery for OHF repair at a single centre, were prospectively collected. MACE was defined as acute myocardial ischaemia or infarction, acute heart failure or cardiovascular death. amongst the 140 patients included, 23 (16.4%) developed postoperative MACE (MACE group) and 117 did not (Control group). Compared to those from control group, patients from MACE group were older, had poorer physical status (ASA III–IV), received preoperative red blood cell transfusion (RBCT) more frequently, presented with lower haemoglobin concentrations and higher NT-proBNP, creatinine and troponin I concentrations. Overall, RBCT requirements and 30d mortality rate were also higher in MACE group. However, in multivariate analysis, only preoperative RBCT, creatinine >1 mg/dL and NT-proBNP >450 pg/mL remained as independent preoperative risks factors for postoperative MACE, while 95% confidence intervals of odds ratios were wide. Though our findings require confirmation in a larger multicentre cohort, identifying risk factors for early postoperative MACE after OHF repair surgery, might facilitate assessing patients’ risk prior to and following surgery, and targeting them the appropriate preventive and/or therapeutic interventions.

Colon Cancer Surgery: Does Preoperative Blood Transfusion Influence Short-Term Postoperative Outcomes?

Background While perioperative red blood cell transfusion has been widely associated with poor surgical outcomes, few studies have focused specifically on the preoperative transfusional risk–benefit ratio. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of preoperative red blood cell transfusion on short-term surgical outcomes in a cohort of anemic colon cancer patients. Methods Moderate and severe anemic patients undergoing colectomy for cancer were divided into two groups based upon the receipt of preoperative transfusion and compared in terms of short-term outcomes. Results A total of 271 patients with moderate or severe anemia were identified, 93 (34.3%) of whom were preoperatively transfused with a median of two units of packed red blood cells per patient (interquartile range: 2–4 units). The overall morbidity rate did not differ significantly between the two groups (35.5% vs. 36.2%; p = 0.63), while an increased incidence of major morbidity (Clavien–Dindo grade > 3a) observed in transfused patients [14% vs. 6.2% respectively; odds ratio (OR): 2.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–5.75; p = 0.03]. The increase in major morbidity was confirmed by multivariate analysis, adjusted for potential confounders (OR: 3.45; 95% CI: 1.32–9.04; p = 0.01). Conclusions Preoperative blood transfusion is associated with severe postoperative complications following colectomy in moderate and severe anemic cancer patients. Further studies are needed to establish an optimal preoperative transfusional cutoff value to optimize postoperative outcomes and balance clinical costs.

Red blood cell transfusion in surgery: an observational study of the trends in the USA from 2011 to 2016

Guidelines recommend restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategies. We conducted an observational study to examine whether the rate of peri-operative red blood cell transfusion in the USA had declined during the period from 01 January 2011 to 31 December 2016. We included 4,273,168 patients from all surgical subspecialties. We examined parallel trends in rates of the following: pre-operative transfusion; prevalence of bleeding disorders and coagulopathy; and minimally invasive procedures. To account for changes in population and procedure characteristics, we performed multivariable logistic regression to assess whether the risk of receiving a transfusion had declined over the study period. Clinical outcomes included peri-operative myocardial infarction, stroke and all-cause mortality at 30days. Peri-operative red blood cell transfusion rates declined from 37,040/441,255 (8.4%) in 2011 to 46,845/1,000,195 (4.6%) in 2016 (p<0.001) across all subspecialties. Compared with 2011, the corresponding adjusted OR (95%CI) for red blood cell transfusion decreased gradually from 0.88 (0.86-0.90) in 2012 to 0.51 (0.50-0.51) in 2016 (p<0.001). Pre-operative red blood cell transfusion rates and the prevalence of bleeding disorders decreased, whereas haematocrit levels and the proportion of minimally invasive procedures increased. Compared with 2011, the adjusted hazard ratios (95%CI) in 2012 and 2016 were 0.96 (0.90-1.02) and 1.05 (0.99-1.11) for myocardial infarction, 0.91 (0.83-0.99) and 0.99 (0.92-1.07) for stroke and 0.98 (0.94-1.02) and 0.99 (0.96-1.03) for all-cause mortality. Use of peri-operative red blood cell transfusion declined from 2011 to 2016. This was not associated with an increase in adverse clinical outcomes.