The Transfusion Alternatives Preoperatively in Sickle Cell Disease (TAPS) study: a randomised, controlled, multicentre clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
No consensus exists on whether preoperative blood transfusions are beneficial in patients with sickle-cell disease. We assessed whether perioperative complication rates would be altered by preoperative transfusion.


METHODS
We did a multicentre, randomised trial. Eligible patients were aged at least 1 year, had haemoglobin SS or Sβ(0)thalassaemia sickle-cell-disease subtypes, and were scheduled for low-risk or medium-risk operations. Patients were randomly assigned no transfusion or transfusion no more than 10 days before surgery. The primary outcome was the proportion of clinically important complications between randomisation and 30 days after surgery. Analysis was by intention to treat.


RESULTS
67 (96%) of 70 enrolled patients-33 no preoperative transfusion and 34 preoperative transfusion-were assessed. 65 (97%) of 67 patients had the haemoglobin SS subtype and 54 (81%) were scheduled to undergo medium-risk surgery. 13 (39%) of 33 patients in the no-preoperative-transfusion group had clinically important complications, compared with five (15%) in the preoperative-transfusion group (p=0.023). Of these, 10 (30%) and one (3%), respectively, had serious adverse events. The unadjusted odds ratio of clinically important complications was 3.8 (95% CI 1.2-12.2, p=0.027). 10 (91%) of 11 serious adverse events were acute chest syndrome (nine in the no-preoperative-transfusion group and one in the preoperative-transfusion group). Duration of hospital stay and readmission rates did not differ between study groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative transfusion was associated with decreased perioperative complications in patients with sickle-cell disease in this trial. This approach could, therefore, be beneficial for patients with the haemoglobin SS subtype who are scheduled to undergo low-risk and medium-risk surgeries.


BACKGROUND
NHS Blood and Transplant.
Department of Haematology, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK. jo.howard@gstt.nhs.uk
Jo
J
Howard
Moira
M
Malfroy
Charlotte
C
Llewelyn
Louise
L
Choo
Renate
R
Hodge
Tony
T
Johnson
Shilpi
S
Purohit
David C
DC
Rees
Louise
L
Tillyer
Isabeau
I
Walker
Karin
K
Fijnvandraat
Melanie
M
Kirby-Allen
Eldon
E
Spackman
Sally C
SC
Davies
Lorna M
LM
Williamson
D056586:Acute Chest Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D059035:Perioperative Period; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000628:therapy
D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle