Autologous blood transfusion does not reduce postoperative infection rates in elective surgery.
BACKGROUND
The influence of blood transfusions in the risk of postoperative infection remains controversial. We examined the association between autologous (AB) and homologous (HB) blood transfusions with postoperative infection in elective surgery.


METHODS
The medical records of 991 Medicare patients aged > or =65 years submitted to hysterectomy and hip and knee replacement were reviewed. Logistic regression analysis was used to control for age, comorbidity, year, and type of procedure.


RESULTS
Overall, 451 (46%) patients required transfusions. AB was given to 324 (72%), HB to 94 (21%); 33 (7%) patients received both. Forty-two patients (4%) developed postoperative infections. The infection rate was not different among patients receiving HB (7%), AB (5%), AB+HB (0), and nontransfused patients (4%); P = 0.18). After adjustment for confounders, HB and AB remained not associated with infections.


CONCLUSIONS
In elective surgery with small volume transfusion, neither AB nor HB transfusions were associated with an increased risk of postoperative infections.
Sauaia
A
A
Colorado Foundation for Medical Care, Aurora 80014, USA.
Alexander
W
W
Moore
E E
EE
Stevens
B R
BR
Rosen
H
H
Dunn
T R
TR
D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States