title: Assessment and treatment of preoperative anemia: Continuing Professional Development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this continuing professional development (CPD) module is to review the risk of anemia and transfusion in perioperative patients and to propose an approach for the diagnosis and treatment of preoperative anemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperative anemia has been associated with increased transfusion of red blood cells, organ injury, and mortality. Postoperative anemia has also been associated with impaired recovery from surgery. Transfusion also increases the risk of infection, organ injury, and mortality. Preoperatively, iron deficiency anemia can be corrected with oral or intravenous iron; certain types of patients might respond to administration of erythrocyte stimulating agents (ESAs). With ESAs, the increased risk of thrombosis should be balanced against the expected benefit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative diagnosis and treatment of anemia may reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality associated with both anemia and transfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Physiology, The Keenan Research Centre in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada. hareg@smh.ca
authors.forename: Gregory M T
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Hare
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pavenski
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000740:Anemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019990:Perioperative Care
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D006397:Hematinics