Severe Postoperative Anaemia Research Articles

Anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy after coronary artery bypass graft: the role of anaemia in diabetics

To ascertain factors associated with anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION) following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in a Lebanese population. A retrospective chart review of consecutive CABG performed over a 5-year period (1995-1999) in one medical centre. A comparison of clinical characteristics was carried out between AION cases and subjects free from AION. The variables analysed included history of diabetes as well as preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative values of haematocrit, blood sugar, oxygen saturation, and arterial blood pressure. A total of 1,594 persons were included. Three subjects experienced acute visual loss from AION following CABG, all had diabetes mellitus, and two suffered from severe postoperative anaemia. Among diabetics (n=484), the risk of AION was significantly higher in subjects with postoperative haematocrit falling below 22 (28.6%) than the rest (0.21%) (P=0.001). Blood transfusion was given in two subjects with prompt visual recovery. Severe anaemia in patients undergoing CABG appears to be a risk factor for AION, especially in diabetics, and needs prompt correction to prevent or reverse the ischaemic ocular events.

Strategien zur Bluteinsparung in der Chirurgie: Der Stellenwert von Erythropoetin und der parenteralen Eisensubstitution

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) and intravenous (i.v.) iron administration may be useful tools to save blood in surgery. In the perioperative period, rHuEPO should be used in slightly anemic patients for whom an autologous predonation program is not recommended (or feasible). In such cases, i.v. iron is only given if there is a functional or real iron deficiency state. In the post-operative period, i.v. iron is administered in association with rHuEPO in an attempt to rapidly correct severe post-operative anemia. The same regimen is used for patients undergoing surgery for inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, other particular categories of patients, such as those with reduced body weight (< 50 kg), candidates for surgery with increased blood needs (> 5 units), or those with a too-short period of time before surgery, also benefit from the administration of these two drugs.

Intravenous iron therapy for correction of severe post-operative anaemia in children

Intravenous iron therapy for correction of severe post-operative anaemia in children