Extent of blood transfusion and cancer-related mortality after cystectomy and urinary diversion for bladder cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the possible adverse effect of peri-operative blood transfusion on cancer-related survival after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.


METHODS
The hospital records of 130 patients treated with cystectomy and urinary diversion for bladder cancer between 1967 and 1986 were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
Standard proportional hazards estimation revealed tumour stage and radiation response after pre-operative irradiation to be significantly associated with cancer-related mortality, whereas age, tumour grade or the extent of peri-operative blood transfusion were not. In models which allowed time varying effects a significantly changed effect of blood transfusion (> or = 7 versus < or = 6 units) was observed, from an initially insignificantly increased relative hazard (RH) (RH = 1.44 at 6 months) to an insignificantly decreased effect after longer follow-up (RH = 0.53 after 2 years).


CONCLUSIONS
Although no overall association between blood transfusion and cancer-related mortality was found, a tendency towards an increased risk early in the follow-up period was observed if more than 6 units were transfused. However, these results need confirmation in further studies before a restrictive attitude towards peri-operative blood transfusion is recommended.
Jahnson
S
S
Department of Urology, Orebro Medical Center, Sweden.
Bergström
R
R
Pedersen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000401:mortality*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000601:surgery; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D014547:Urinary Diversion / Q000401:mortality*