Transfusion Requirements in Surgical Oncology Patients: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pinheiro de Almeida, Juliano; Vincent, Jean-Louis; Barbosa Gomes Galas, Filomena Regina; Pinto Marinho de Almeida, Elisangela; Fukushima, Julia T.; Osawa, Eduardo A.; Bergamin, Fabricio; Lee Park, Clarice; Nakamura, Rosana Ely; Fonseca, Silvia M. R.; Cutait, Guilherme; Inacio Alves, Joseane; Bazan, Mellik; Vieira, Silvia; Vieira Sandrini, Ana C.; Palomba, Henrique; Ribeiro, Ulysses; Crippa, Alexandre; Dalloglio, Marcos; del Pilar Estevez Diz, Maria; Kalil Filho, Roberto; Costa Auler, Jose Otavio; Rhodes, Andrew; Hajjar, Ludhmila Abrahao
• Is Part Of: Anesthesiology. Volume 122:Number 1(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Anesthesiology -- Periodicals; Anesthetics -- Periodicals; Anesthesia -- Periodicals; 617.9605
• DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000511
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-3022

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Several studies have indicated that a restrictive erythrocyte transfusion strategy is as safe as a liberal one in critically ill patients, but there is no clear evidence to support the superiority of any perioperative transfusion strategy in patients with cancer. Methods: In a randomized, controlled, parallel-group, double-blind (patients and outcome assessors) superiority trial in the intensive care unit of a tertiary oncology hospital, the authors evaluated whether a restrictive strategy of erythrocyte transfusion (transfusion when hemoglobin concentration <7 g/dl) was superior to a liberal one (transfusion when hemoglobin concentration <9 g/dl) for reducing mortality and severe clinical complications among patients having major cancer surgery. All adult patients with cancer having major abdominal surgery who required postoperative intensive care were included and randomly allocated to treatment with the liberal or the restrictive erythrocyte transfusion strategy. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of mortality and morbidity. Results: A total of 198 patients were included as follows: 101 in the restrictive group and 97 in the liberal group. The primary composite endpoint occurred in 19.6% (95% CI, 12.9 to 28.6%) of patients in the liberal-strategy group and in 35.6% (27.0 to 45.4%) of patients in the restrictive-strategy group ( P = 0.012). Compared with the restrictive strategy, the liberal transfusion strategy was associated with an absolute risk reduction for the composite outcome of 16% (3.8 to 28.2%) and a number needed to treat of 6.2 (3.5 to 26.5). Conclusion: A liberal erythrocyte transfusion strategy with a hemoglobin trigger of 9 g/dl was associated with fewer major postoperative complications in patients having major cancer surgery compared with a restrictive strategy. Abstract : In 198 patients randomly assigned to red cell transfusions at a hemoglobin concentration of 7 or 9 g/dl. Major complications were nearly twice as common in patients managed with the restrictive approach as in those managed with the liberal approach (36% vs . 20%). This study supports a more liberal transfusion strategy in major cancer surgery.