title: Role of perioperative intravenous iron therapy in elderly hip fracture patients: a single-center randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of intravenous (IV) iron sucrose therapy reducing transfusion requirements in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a prospective randomized controlled trial involving 200 patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. Group A (100 patients) received standard treatment, while Group B (100 patients) received iron sucrose (600 mg IV). The primary endpoint was the number of patients that were transfused postoperatively. The secondary endpoints were the rate of red blood cell units used, hematimetric variables of blood tests, mortality, infection rates, length of hospital stay, and appearance of side effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences in the percentage of patients requiring transfusion (Group A 41.3% vs. Group B 33.3%) and in the number of concentrates transfused (0.87±1.21 for Group A vs. 0.76±1.16 for Group B) were not significant for the patient group as a whole, but were significant for patients with intracapsular fractures (45.7% required transfusion in Group A vs. 14.3% in Group B; p<0.005) and in patients with a baseline hemoglobin (Hb) level of 12 g/dL or more (35.2% required transfusions in Group A vs. 19% in Group B; p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transfusion requirements in patients with intracapsular fracture or baseline Hb level of 12 g/dL or more appear to be reduced by IV iron sucrose therapy, but there was no difference in morbidity, mortality, or length of hospital stay. The treatment is safe and hastens recovery from blood loss.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery Unit, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain. jserranot@gmail.com
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Serrano-Trenas
authors.forename: Pilar Font
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Ugalde
authors.forename: Laura Muñoz
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cabello
authors.forename: Luis Castro
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chofles
authors.forename: Pilar Serrano
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Lázaro
authors.forename: Pedro Carpintero
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Benítez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077605:Ferric Oxide, Saccharated; D005937:Glucaric Acid; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D057967:Infusions, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D059035:Perioperative Period; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D000077605:Ferric Oxide, Saccharated; D005937:Glucaric Acid