title: Effect of blood transfusion on survival after esophagogastrectomy for carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is growing evidence that blood transfusion is associated with clinical factors that can lead to transfusion-induced immunosuppression. This effect can be beneficial or deleterious.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion on survival was studied retrospectively in 524 patients who were discharged from the hospital after esophagogastrectomy for carcinoma performed in a single unit over a 10-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median operative blood loss for the series was 500 mL (range, 50 to 3,750 mL). Three hundred thirty-five patients (64%) received a perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion related to esophagogastrectomy, and 189 (36%) did not. The median perioperative blood transfusion administered was 900 mL (range, 300 to 12,950 mL). Perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion was associated with reduced survival for patients in stage III (p < 0.05) at 1 year, but no significant difference was found in this stage at 3 or 5 years after resection. Stage III disease accounted for 250 (48%) of the 524 patients discharged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion does not affect long-term survival after esophagogastrectomy for carcinoma, it does have a significant association with short-term survival in a group whose overall survival is often limited after resection. Attention should be directed toward minimizing operative blood loss and transfusing only for factors known to be clinically important, such as oxygen delivery and hemodynamics, not arbitrary hemoglobin levels.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgical Unit, City Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Leaver
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Elton
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D002299:Cardia; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate