Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Purpose Blood transfusion is associated with post-transfusion reactions, disease transmission and immunosuppression. Little is known about the incidence of blood transfusion in patients undergoing elective colon or rectal resection. The purpose of the present study is to identify the incidence of blood transfusion and factors that predict risks of blood transfusion in patients undergoing colon and rectal resection.

Methods Hospital charts of 206 patients at three hospitals in the Los Angeles area from January 1995 to September 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic and clinical variables such as age, gender, comorbidities, diagnosis, disease location and operative procedure were recorded.

Results The overall transfusion rate was 48%. The factors that exhibit a positive association with blood transfusion include a low pre-operative hemoglobin level (p-value = 0.000002), disease location in the rectum (RR = 1.37 – 2.44), diagnosis of cancer (RR = 1.10 – 2.07), diabetes mellitus (RR = 1.07 – 2.12), history of cerebral vascular accident (RR = 1.86 – 2.51), and documented coronary artery disease (RR – 1.01 – 2.09).

Conclusion Factors predicting the need for blood transfusion in surgical patients are useful because they may allow implementation of preventative therapy to treat anemia and other conditions. The present study demonstrates a number of pre-operative clinical factors that are predictive of blood transfusion.

Recommended Citation

Robert W. Beart Dr. (2008) "PREDICTING THE USE OF BLOOD TRANSFUSION," World Journal of Colorectal Surgery: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1, Article 13.
Available at: http://services.bepress.com/wjcs/vol1/iss1/art13