Effect of Perioperative Transfusion on Recurrence and Survival after Gastric Cancer Resection: A 7-Institution Analysis of 765 Patients from the US Gastric Cancer Collaborative

Total iron-binding capacity is a novel prognostic marker after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Patients with gastric cancer (GC) are affected by changes in iron status. Before surgery, GC patients are likely to have iron-deficiency anemia; and after gastrectomy, patients suffer from low nutritional status and low iron. This study investigated preoperative iron status associated with prognosis after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODS

We evaluated preoperative serum hemoglobin (Hgb), Fe and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) in 298 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for GC without preoperative chemotherapy, and analyzed these factors' associations with prognosis after surgery.

RESULTS

Of the 298 patients, 129 (43.2%) had low Hgb levels, and 33 (11.1%) had low TIBC (< 260 µg/dl) that was not associated with Hgb or Fe level. Patients with low TIBC were significantly associated with older age (≥ 65 years old; P = 0.0085), low albumin (< 3.9 g/dl; P = 0.0388) and high CRP (≥ 0.15 mg/dl; P = 0.0018) in multivariate analysis. Low Fe (< 60 µg/dl) was not associated with disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS); however, low Fe was associated with longer cancer-specific survival in Stage III GC patients (P = 0.0333). Both low Hgb and low TIBC were significantly associated with shorter DFS (Hgb: P = 0.0433; TIBC: P < 0.0001) and shorter OS (Hgb: P = 0.0352; TIBC: P < 0.0001). Low TIBC were significantly associated with shorter DFS (HR 2.167, 95% CI 1.231-3.639, P = 0.0086) and shorter OS (HR 2.065, 95% CI 1.144-3.570, P = 0.0173) in multivariate Cox hazard regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative serum TIBC level of GC patients who undergo curative gastrectomy is a novel prognostic marker in univariate and multivariate analyses.

Impact of peri-operative blood transfusion on post-operative infections after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a propensity score matching analysis focusing on the timing, amount of transfusion and role of leukocyte depletion

Purpose

Allogeneic blood transfusions (BTF) are sometimes inevitable during radical gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy for advanced gastric cancer. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the association between BTF and post-operative infections, focusing on the impact of timing, amount of transfusion and the role of leukocyte depletion.

Methods

The study cohort was 2064 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer from November 2010 to August 2017. The association between BTF and post-operative infections was estimated by univariate and multivariate analyses after propensity score matching. Subgroup analysis was performed according to the timing and amount of transfusion, and leukocyte depletion or not.

Results

Out of a total 2064 patients, 426 (20.6%) received peri-operative BTF. After one-to-one matching, 361 pairs of patients were included for further analysis, of who 68 (9.4%) developed infections. Multivariate analysis identified that an operation time ≥ 240 min, combined multi-organ resection, BTF and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² were independent risk factors for post-operative infection. Patients given a high-volume (> 7.5 U), intra-operatively of leukocyte-non-depleted BTF had the highest risk of developing infections clarified by subgroup analysis.

Conclusion

Infection was the most common complication following gastrectomy for gastric cancer and BTF was identified as an independent risk factor by propensity score matching and multivariate analyses. The timing, amount of transfusion and leukocyte depletion had an impact on the incidence of infection. To decrease infection, BTF should be avoided where possible, particularly during operation, with a large amount and leukocyte-not-depleted blood.

The patient with anemia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Anemia remains a global health issue. This review addresses the recent findings on anemia in surgical patients and its significance in perioperative setting.

RECENT FINDINGS

The prevalence of anemia in surgical populations is high, ranging from one-third of population to nearly 100%. Anemia is an independent, modifiable risk factor for a growing list of unfavorable events, complications and diminished functional outcomes (lasting for months following discharge), as well as a major predisposing factor for allogeneic blood transfusions. Therefore, timely screening and diagnosis of anemia prior to elective surgeries is of great importance. Nonetheless, studies suggest that many opportunities to properly manage anemia in perioperative setting are lost. Patient blood management provides a framework of evidence-based strategies to effectively reduce the risk of occurrence of anemia and treat it with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes. Studies on the clinical impact of patient blood management strategies are emerging.

SUMMARY

Active screening for anemia and proper management of it in perioperative setting is essential. Several strategies to prevent anemia - including elimination of unnecessary diagnostic blood draws - are effective and reasonable approaches.

The prognostic role of perioperative allogeneic blood transfusions in gastric cancer patients undergoing curative resection: A systematic review and meta-analysis of non-randomized, adjusted studies

The impact of allogeneic perioperative blood transfusions (APTs) on the prognosis of gastric cancer patients undergoing curative-intent gastrectomy is still a highly debated topic. Two meta-analyses were published in 2015, and new studies report conflicting results. A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, updated to March 1, 2016. Thirty-eight non-randomized studies reporting data on overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and postoperative complications (PCs) were included. An inverse variance random-effects meta-analysis was conducted. APTs showed an association with worse OS, DFS, DSS and an increased number of PCs. The hazard ratio (HR) for OS was 1.49, with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 1.32-1.69 (p < .00001; Q-test p = .001, I-squared = 56%). After outlier exclusion, the HR for OS was 1.34 (95% CI = 1.23-1.45, p < .00001; Q-test p = .64, I-squared = 0%). The HR for DFS was 1.48 (95% CI = 1.18-1.86, p = .0007; Q-test p = .31, I-squared = 16%), and the HR for DSS was 1.66 (95% CI = 1.5-2.19, p = .0004; Q-test p = .96, I-squared = 0%). The odds ratio for PCs was 3.33 (95% CI = 2.10-5.29, p < .00001; Q-test p = .14, I-squared = 42%). This meta-analysis showed a significant association between transfusions and OS, DFS, DSS and PCs. The quality of the evidence was low. Aggregation, selection and selective reporting bias were detected. The biases shifted the results towards significance. Further studies using accurate adjustment methods are needed. Until such additional studies are performed, caution in administering transfusions and optimization of cancer patient blood management are warranted.

Peri-Operative Blood Transfusion Does Not Influence Overall and Disease-Free Survival After Radical Gastrectomy for Stage II/III Gastric Cancer: a Propensity Score Matching Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Whether peri-operative blood transfusions (BTF) negatively impact long-term survival after gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC) remains controversial. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate independent predictive factors of BTF and the potential impact of BTF on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for stage II/III GC.

METHODS

Of 1020 patients who underwent gastrectomy for stage II/III GC from November 2010 to December 2015, 231 (22.6%) patients received BTF. The independent predictive factors of BTF were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses. Cox regression and propensity score matching (PSM) analyses of OS and DFS in patients who received BTF or not were compared.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis revealed that age, pre-operative hemoglobin levels, tumor size, operation time, combined multi-organ resection, and intra-operative blood loss were independent predictive factors for BTF. PSM analysis created 205 pairs of patients. BTF was significantly associated with decreased OS (P = 0.025) and DFS (P = 0.034) in the entire cohort before PSM. After PSM, there was no longer a significant association between BTF and OS (P = 0.850) or DFS (P = 0.880). BTF was not identified as an independent risk factor for OS or DFS by multivariate Cox regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study revealed that BTF did not influence OS and DFS after radical gastrectomy for stage II/III GC. Worse oncological outcomes were caused by clinical circumstances requiring blood transfusions, including longer operation time and advanced tumor stage, not due to BTF itself.

Continued decline in blood collection and transfusion in the United States-2015

BACKGROUND

In 2011 and 2013, the National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS) revealed declines in blood collection and transfusion in the United States. The objective of this study was to describe blood services in 2015.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The 2015 NBCUS was distributed to all US blood collection centers, all hospitals performing at least 1000 surgeries annually, and a 40% random sample of hospitals performing 100 to 999 surgeries annually. Weighting and imputation were used to generate national estimates for units of blood and components collected, deferred, distributed, transfused, and outdated.

RESULTS

Response rates for the 2015 NBCUS were 78.4% for blood collection centers and 73.9% for transfusing hospitals. In 2015, 12,591,000 units of red blood cells (RBCs) (95% confidence interval [CI], 11,985,000-13,197,000 units of RBCs) were collected, and 11,349,000 (95% CI, 10,592,000-11,747,000) were transfused, representing declines since 2013 of 11.6% and 13.9%, respectively. Total platelet units distributed (2,436,000; 95% CI, 2,230,000-2,642,000) and transfused (1,983,000; 95% CI, 1,816,000 = 2,151,000) declined by 0.5% and 13.1%, respectively, since 2013. Plasma distributions (3,714,000; 95% CI, 3,306,000-4,121,000) and transfusions (2,727,000; 95% CI, 2,594,000-2,859,000) in 2015 declined since 2013. The median price paid per unit in 2015-$211 for leukocyte-reduced RBCs, $524 for apheresis platelets, and $54 for fresh frozen plasma-was less for all components than in 2013.

CONCLUSIONS

The 2015 NBCUS findings suggest that continued declines in demand for blood products resulted in fewer units collected and distributed Maintaining a blood inventory sufficient to meet routine and emergent demands will require further monitoring and understanding of these trends.

Blood Transfusion and Survival for Resected Adrenocortical Carcinoma: A Study from the United States Adrenocortical Carcinoma Group

Perioperative blood transfusion is associated with decreased survival in pancreatic, gastric, and liver cancer. The effect of transfusion in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) has not been studied. Patients with available transfusion data undergoing curative-intent resection of ACC from 1993 to 2014 at 13 institutions comprising the United States Adrenocortical Carcinoma Group were included. Factors associated with blood transfusion were determined. Primary and secondary end points were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), respectively. Out of 265 patients, 149 were included for analysis. Out of these, 57 patients (38.3%) received perioperative transfusions. Compared to nontransfused patients, transfused patients more commonly had stage 4 disease (46% vs 24%, P = 0.01), larger tumors (15.8 vs 10.2 cm, P < 0.001), inferior vena cava involvement (24.6% vs 5.4%, P = 0.002), additional organ resection (78.9% vs 36.3%, P < 0.001), and major complications (29% vs 2%, P < 0.001). Transfusion was associated with decreased RFS (8.9 vs 24.7 months, P = 0.006) and OS (22.8 vs 91.0 months, P < 0.001). On univariate Cox regression, transfusion, stage IV, hormonal hypersecretion, and adjuvant therapy were associated with decreased RFS. On multivariable analysis, only transfusion [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 51.0–2.9, P = 0.04], stage IV (HR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.7–5.9, P < 0.001), and hormonal hypersecretion (HR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.5–4.2, P < 0.001) were associated with worse RFS. When applying this model to OS, similar associations were seen (transfusion HR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.1–3.8, P = 0.02; stage 4 HR = 6.2, 95% CI = 3.1–12.4, P < 0.001; hormonal hypersecretion HR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.9–6.4, P < 0.001). There was no difference in outcomes between patients who received 1 to 2 units versus >2 units of packed red blood cells in median RFS (8.9 vs 8.4 months, P = 0.95) or OS (26.5 vs 18.6 months, P = 0.63). Peri-operative transfusion is associated with earlier recurrence and decreased survival after curative-intent resection of ACC. Strategies and protocols to minimize blood transfusion should be developed and followed.

Prognostic Significance of Blood Transfusion in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients without Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether blood transfusions affect overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. A total of 181 patients were enrolled and divided into two groups: 68 patients in the transfused group and 113 patients in the nontransfused group. Statistical analyses showed that there were significant differences in ECOG scoring, Ig isotype, platelet (Plt) counts, hemoglobin (Hb) level, serum creatinine (Scr) level, and β₂-microglobulin (β₂-MG) level between the two groups. Univariate analyses showed that higher International Staging System staging, Plt counts < 100 × 10⁹/L, Scr level ≥ 177 μmol/L, serum β₂-MG ≥ 5.5 μmol/L, serum calcium (Ca) ≥ 2.75 mmol/L, and thalidomide use were associated with both OS and PFS in MM patients. Age ≥ 60 was associated with OS and Ig isotype was associated with PFS in MM patients. Moreover, blood transfusion was associated with PFS but not OS in MM patients. Multivariate analyses showed that blood transfusion was not an independent factor for PFS in MM patients. Our preliminary results suggested that newly diagnosed MM patients may benefit from a liberal blood transfusion strategy, since blood transfusion is not an independent impact factor for survival.

Impact of Peri-Operative Anemia and Blood Transfusions in Patients with Gastric Cancer Receiving Gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

Potential disadvantages of blood transfusion during curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer have been reported, and the role of peri-operative transfusions remains to be ascertained. Thus, the aim of our study was to survey its impact in patients with gastric cancer undergoinging gastrectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical data of patients receiving curative gastrectomy at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital were obtained. Findings for pre-operative anemia states, pre-, peri- and post-operative transfusion of red blood cell (RBC) products as well as post-operative complication events were collected for univariate analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 116 patients with gastric cancer received gastrectomy at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital from 2011 to 2014. Both pre-operative and intra- and post-operative transfusion of RBC products were markedly associated with post-operative infectious events (OR: 3.70, 95% CI: 1.43-9.58, P=0.002; OR: 8.20, 95% CI: 3.11-22.62, P<0.001, respectively). In addition, peri- and post-operative RBC transfusion was significantly associated with prolonged hospital stay from admission to discharge (OR: 8.66, 95% CI: 1.73-83.00, P=0.002) and post-operative acute renal failure (OR: 19.69, 95% CI: 2.66-854.56, P<0.001). Also, the overall survival was seemingly decreased by peri-operative RBC transfusion in our gastric cancer cases (P=0.078).

CONCLUSIONS

Our survey indicated that peri-operative RBC transfusion could increase the risk of infectious events and acute renal failure post curative gastrectomy as well as worsen the overall survival in gastric cancer cases. Hence, unnecessary blood transfusion before, during and after curative gastrectomy should be avoided in patients with gastric cancer.

Improvement of the Surgical Apgar Score by Addition of Intraoperative Blood Transfusion Among Patients Undergoing Major Gastrointestinal Surgery

BACKGROUND

The surgical Apgar score (SAS) has been shown to correlate with postoperative outcomes. A key component of the SAS is estimated blood loss (EBL), which has been shown to be inaccurate and discordant with intraoperative blood transfusion. Given this, the objective of the current study was to assess the added predictive value of the including receipt of intraoperative transfusion to the SAS.

METHODS

We identified 1833 patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery (pancreatic, hepato-biliary, and colorectal) between January 1, 2010 and August 31, 2013 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The primary outcome was postoperative complications or death. A modified SAS was created by assigning a "0" EBL score for every patient who received an intraoperative blood transfusion, regardless of the actual EBL. Model performance was tested using logistic regression and c-statistic.

RESULTS

Mean EBL of the entire cohort was 250 mL. Two hundred ninety-two patients (15.9 %) received at least 1 unit of blood intraoperatively. Approximately, one half of patients (55.1 %) who had an EBL <1000 mL received an intraoperative transfusion. Patients who received an intraoperative transfusion (transfusion n = 94, 32.2 % vs. no transfusion n = 221, 14.3 %; P < 0.001) and those with increasing EBL had a higher incidence of postoperative morbidity and/or death (≤100 mL: 11.6 %, 101-600 mL: 16.9 %, 601-1000 mL: 24.5 %, >1000 mL: 29.2 %; P < 0.001). The variance inflation factor between EBL and intraoperative transfusion was 1.23 for postoperative morbidity/mortality, suggesting that the multicollinearity between the two variables was low. With the inclusion of intraoperative transfusion in the modified SAS, the modified model (c-statistic 0.6552) had an improved discrimination of predicting postoperative morbidity and mortality as compared to the original SAS (c-statistic 0.6391) (P = 0.01). The modified SAS demonstrated improvement in predicting raw differences in the incidence of postoperative morbidity/mortality based on the overall score (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The inclusion of intraoperative transfusion in a modified SAS significantly improves the risk-stratifying ability of the score with regard to postoperative morbidity and mortality. Given the variability of intraoperative transfusion, its discordance with EBL, and its strong negative impact on postoperative outcomes, we strongly support the inclusion of this factor in a modified SAS.

Morbidity and Mortality After Gastrectomy: Identification of Modifiable Risk Factors

BACKGROUND

Morbidity after gastrectomy remains high. The potentially modifiable risk factors have not been well described. This study considers a series of potentially modifiable patient-specific and perioperative characteristics that could be considered to reduce morbidity and mortality after gastrectomy.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study includes adults in the ACS NSQIP PUF dataset who underwent gastrectomy between 2011 and 2013. Sequential multivariable models were used to estimate effects of clinical covariates on study outcomes including morbidity, mortality, readmission, and reoperation.

RESULTS

Three thousand six hundred and seventy-eight patients underwent gastrectomy. A majority of patients had distal gastrectomy (N = 2,799, 76.1 %) and had resection for malignancy (N = 2,316, 63.0 %). Seven hundred and ninety-eight patients (21.7 %) experienced a major complication. Reoperation was required in 290 patients (7.9 %). Thirty-day mortality was 5.2 %. Age (OR = 1.01, 95 % CI = 1.01-1.02, p = 0.001), preoperative malnutrition (OR = 1.65, 95 % CI = 1.35-2.02, p < 0.001), total gastrectomy (OR = 1.63, 95 % CI = 1.31-2.03, p < 0.001), benign indication for resection (OR = 1.60, 95 % CI = 1.29-1.97, p < 0.001), blood transfusion (OR = 2.57, 95 % CI = 2.10-3.13, p < 0.001), and intraoperative placement of a feeding tubes (OR = 1.28, 95 % CI = 1.00-1.62, p = 0.047) were independently associated with increased risk of morbidity. Association between tobacco use and morbidity was statistically marginal (OR = 1.23, 95 % CI = 0.99-1.53, p = 0.064). All-cause postoperative morbidity had significant associations with reoperation, readmission, and mortality (all p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Mitigation of perioperative risk factors including smoking and malnutrition as well as identified operative considerations may improve outcomes after gastrectomy. Postoperative morbidity has the strongest association with other measures of poor outcome: reoperation, readmission, and mortality.

"Do not do" recommendations of the Spanish Society of Anaesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Therapy. "Commitment to Quality by Scientific Societies" Project

In April 2013 the Ministry of Health (MSSSI) adopted the project called "Commitment to Quality by Scientific Societies in Spain", in response to social and professional demands for sustainability of the health system. The initiative is part of the activities of the Spanish Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment and Services of the National Health System, and is coordinated jointly by the Quality and Cohesion Department, the Aragon Institute of Health Sciences (IACS), and the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI). All the scientific societies in Spain have been included in this project, and its main objective is to reduce the unnecessary use of health interventions in order to agree "do not do" recommendations, based on scientific evidence. The primary objective was to identify interventions that have not proven effective, have limited or doubtful effectiveness, are not cost-effective, or do not have priority. Secondary objectives were: reducing variability in clinical practice, to spread information between doctors and patients to guide decision-making, the appropriate use of health resources and, the promotion of clinical safety and reducing iatrogenesis. The selection process of the 5 "do not do" recommendations was made by Delphi methodology. A total of 25 panellists (all anaesthesiologists) chose between 15 proposals based on: evidence that supports quality, relevance, or clinical impact, and the people they affect. The 5 recommendations proposed were: Do not maintain deep levels of sedation in critically ill patients without a specific indication; Do not perform preoperative chest radiography in patients under 40 years-old with ASA physical status I or II; Do not systematically perform preoperative tests in cataract surgery unless otherwise indicated based on clinical history and physical examination; Do not perform elective surgery in patients with anaemia at risk of bleeding until a diagnostic workup is performed and treatment is given; and not perform laboratory tests (blood count, biochemistry and coagulation) prior to surgery in healthy or low risk patients (ASA I and II) with minimal estimated blood loss.

Interaction of Postoperative Morbidity and Receipt of Adjuvant Therapy on Long-Term Survival After Resection for Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Results From the U.S. Gastric Cancer Collaborative

BACKGROUND

Postoperative complications (POCs) can negatively impact survival after oncologic resection. POCs may also decrease the rate of adjuvant therapy completion. We evaluated the impact of complications on gastric cancer survival and analyzed the combined effect of complications and adjuvant therapy on survival.

METHODS

We analyzed 824 patients from 7 institutions of the U.S. Gastric Cancer Collaborative who underwent curative resection for gastric adenocarcinoma between 2000 and 2012. POC were graded using the modified Clavien-Dindo system. Survival probabilities were estimated using the method of Kaplan and Meier and analyzed using multivariate Cox regression.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 35 months. The overall complication rate was 41 %. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients who experienced complications were 27 and 23 %, respectively, compared with 43 and 40 % in patients who did not have complications (p < 0.0001 for OS and RFS). On multivariate analysis, POC remained an independent predictor for decreased OS and RFS (HR 1.3, 95 % CI 1.1-1.6, p = 0.03 for OS; HR 1.3, 95 % CI 1.01-1.6, p = 0.03 for RFS). Patients who experienced POC were less likely to receive adjuvant therapy (OR 0.5, 95 % CI 0.3-0.7, p < 0.001). The interaction of complications and failure to receive adjuvant therapy significantly increased the hazard of death compared with patients who had neither complications nor adjuvant therapy (HR 2.3, 95 % CI 1.6-3.2, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative complications adversely affect long-term outcomes after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Not receiving adjuvant therapy in the face of POC portends an especially poor prognosis following gastrectomy for gastric cancer.