Adverse effects of perioperative blood transfusion in patients with colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of perioperative blood transfusion on cancer related survival and infective complications after radical operations for colorectal cancer.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
District hospital in Sweden.


METHODS
217 patients who fulfilled the criteria for inclusion, out of 392 consecutive patients operated on for colorectal cancer between 1975 and 1979.


METHODS
Morbidity and cancer related mortality depending on whether blood was transfused and, if so, how much.


RESULTS
Dukes' stage (p < 0.001), rectal tumours (p < 0.05) and the number of units transfused (p < 0.05) were significantly associated with cancer related mortality. Patients with rectal cancer transfused with 1-2 units had significantly better survival than those transfused with more than 4 units (p < 0.05), but this was not the case for colonic tumours. There was no significant association between blood transfusion and the incidence of infective complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Though there seems to be an association between the number of units of blood transfused and cancer related survival in patients with rectal cancer, this does not necessarily imply causation. We recommend that until this is clarified by large, prospective investigations, autologous blood should be used whenever possible, and unnecessary blood transfusion should be avoided.
Jahnson
S
S
Department of Urology, Orebro Medical Center Hospital, Sweden.
Andersson
M
M
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002423:Cause of Death; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction