An open-label, randomized, parallel-group study of perioperative epoetin alfa versus standard of care for blood conservation in major elective spinal surgery: safety analysis

Use of preoperative erythropoietin-stimulating agents is associated with decreased thrombotic adverse events compared to red blood cell transfusion in surgical patients with anaemia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Preoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusions increase post-operative venous thromboembolic (VTE) events. Erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) increase VTE risk in cancer patients; we aimed to assess ESA versus RBC-associated VTE risks in a broad population of surgical patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We queried TriNetX Diamond Network from 2006 to 2023, comparing patients with anaemia within 3 months preoperatively who received preoperative ESAs with or without intravenous (IV) iron to patients who received preoperative RBCs. Sub-analyses included (1) all surgeries and (2) cardiovascular surgeries. We propensity score matched for demographics, comorbidities, medical services, post-treatment haemoglobin (g/dL) and, for all-surgery comparisons, surgery type. Outcomes included 30-day post-operative mortality, VTE, pulmonary embolism (PE), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and haemoglobin.

RESULTS

In our 19,548-patient cohorts, compared with preoperative RBC transfusion, ESAs without IV iron were associated with lower mortality (relative risk [RR] = 0.51 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.45-0.59]), VTE (RR = 0.57 [0.50-0.65]) and PE (RR = 0.67 [0.54-0.84]). Post-operative haemoglobin was higher in the ESA without IV iron cohort compared with the transfusion cohort (10.0 ± 1.4 vs. 9.4 ± 1.8 g/dL, p = 0.002). Cardiac surgical patients receiving ESAs with or without IV iron had lower risk for post-operative mortality, VTE and PE (p < 0.001) than those receiving RBCs. Post-operative haemoglobin differed between patients receiving ESAs with IV iron versus RBCs (10.1 ± 1.5 vs. 9.4 ± 1.9 g/dL, p = 0.0009).

CONCLUSION

Compared with surgical patients who were transfused RBCs, ESA recipients had reduced 30-day post-operative risk of mortality, VTE, PE and DIC and increased haemoglobin levels. IV iron given with ESAs improved mortality.

Adverse events of iron and/or erythropoiesis-stimulating agent therapy in preoperatively anemic elective surgery patients: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Iron supplementation and erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) administration represent the hallmark therapies in preoperative anemia treatment, as reflected in a set of evidence-based treatment recommendations made during the 2018 International Consensus Conference on Patient Blood Management. However, little is known about the safety of these therapies. This systematic review investigated the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) during or after treatment with iron and/or ESAs.

METHODS

Five databases (The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, Transfusion Evidence Library, Web of Science) and two trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP) were searched until 23 May 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort, and case-control studies investigating any AE during or after iron and/or ESA administration in adult elective surgery patients with preoperative anemia were eligible for inclusion and judged using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tools. The GRADE approach was used to assess the overall certainty of evidence.

RESULTS

Data from 26 RCTs and 16 cohort studies involving a total of 6062 patients were extracted, on 6 treatment comparisons: (1) intravenous (IV) versus oral iron, (2) IV iron versus usual care/no iron, (3) IV ferric carboxymaltose versus IV iron sucrose, (4) ESA+iron versus control (placebo and/or iron, no treatment), (5) ESA+IV iron versus ESA+oral iron, and (6) ESA+IV iron versus ESA+IV iron (different ESA dosing regimens). Most AE data concerned mortality/survival (n=24 studies), thromboembolic (n=22), infectious (n=20), cardiovascular (n=19) and gastrointestinal (n=14) AEs. Very low certainty evidence was assigned to all but one outcome category. This uncertainty results from both the low quantity and quality of AE data due to the high risk of bias caused by limitations in the study design, data collection, and reporting.

CONCLUSIONS

It remains unclear if ESA and/or iron therapy is associated with AEs in preoperatively anemic elective surgery patients. Future trial investigators should pay more attention to the systematic collection, measurement, documentation, and reporting of AE data.

Clinical practice guideline: evidence, recommendations and algorithm for the preoperative optimization of anemia, hyperglycemia and smoking

Preoperative optimization has not been explored comprehensively in the surgical literature, as this responsibility has often been divided among surgery, anesthesia and medicine. We developed an evidence-based clinical practice guideline to summarize existing evidence and present diagnostic and treatment algorithms for use by surgeons caring for patients scheduled to undergo major elective surgery. We focus on 3 common comorbid conditions seen across surgical specialties - anemia, hyperglycemia and smoking - as these conditions increase complication rates in patients undergoing major surgery and can be optimized successfully as soon as 6-8 weeks before surgery. With the ability to address these conditions earlier in the patient journey, surgeons can positively affect patient outcomes. The aim of this guideline is to bring optimization in the preoperative period under the existing umbrella of evidence-based surgical care.

Challenges in Patient Blood Management for Cardiac Surgery: A Narrative Review

About 15 years ago, Patient Blood Management (PBM) emerged as a new paradigm in perioperative medicine and rapidly found support of all major medical societies and government bodies. Blood products are precious, scarce and expensive and their use is frequently associated with adverse short- and long-term outcomes. Recommendations and guidelines on the topic are published in an increasing rate. The concept aims at using an evidence-based approach to rationalize transfusion practices by optimizing the patient's red blood cell mass in the pre-, intra- and postoperative periods. However, elegant as a concept, the implementation of a PBM program on an institutional level or even in a single surgical discipline like cardiac surgery, can be easier said than done. Many barriers, such as dogmatic ideas, logistics and lack of support from the medical and administrative departments need to be overcome and each center must find solutions to their specific problems. In this paper we present a narrative overview of the challenges and updated recommendations for the implementation of a PBM program in cardiac surgery.

Management of venous thromboembolism in athletes

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common condition with high associated morbidity and mortality. Athletes have unique VTE risk factors compared with the general population, and may have a higher than anticipated risk of thrombosis. Anticoagulant treatment poses additional challenges in athletes, as these individuals usually wish to return to sporting activities without delay. In addition, those athletes who engage in contact sports may have bleeding complications with extended anticoagulation. In this paper, we discuss VTE risk factors in athletes, the impact of exertion on haemostasis, measures which could be adopted to mitigate VTE risks in these highly active individuals and options to deal with bleeding risks from anticoagulation during injury-prone sporting activities.

Erythropoietin plus iron versus control treatment including placebo or iron for preoperative anaemic adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND

Approximately 30% of adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery suffer from preoperative anaemia. Preoperative anaemia is a risk factor for mortality and adverse outcomes in different surgical specialties and is frequently the reason for blood transfusion. The most common causes are renal, chronic diseases, and iron deficiency. International guidelines recommend that the cause of anaemia guide preoperative anaemia treatment. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) with iron supplementation has frequently been used to increase preoperative haemoglobin concentrations in patients in order to avoid the need for perioperative allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of preoperative rHuEPO therapy (subcutaneous or parenteral) with iron (enteral or parenteral) in reducing the need for allogeneic RBC transfusions in preoperatively anaemic adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, Ovid MEDLINE(R), Ovid Embase, ISI Web of Science: SCI-EXPANDED and CPCI-S, and clinical trial registries WHO ICTRP and ClinicalTrials.gov on 29 August 2019.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared preoperative rHuEPO + iron therapy to control treatment (placebo, no treatment, or standard of care with or without iron) for preoperatively anaemic adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery. We used the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of anaemia: haemoglobin concentration (g/dL) less than 13 g/dL for males, and 12 g/dL for non-pregnant females (decision of inclusion based on mean haemoglobin concentration). We defined two subgroups of rHuEPO dosage: 'low' for 150 to 300 international units (IU)/kg body weight, and 'high' for 500 to 600 IU/kg body weight.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors collected data from the included studies. Our primary outcome was the need for RBC transfusion (no autologous transfusion, fresh frozen plasma or platelets), measured in transfused participants during surgery (intraoperative) and up to five days after surgery. Secondary outcomes of interest were: haemoglobin concentration (directly before surgery), number of RBC units (where one unit contains 250 to 450 mL) transfused per participant (intraoperative and up to five days after surgery), mortality (within 30 days after surgery), length of hospital stay, and adverse events (e.g. renal dysfunction, thromboembolism, hypertension, allergic reaction, headache, fever, constipation).

MAIN RESULTS

Most of the included trials were in orthopaedic, gastrointestinal, and gynaecological surgery and included participants with mild and moderate preoperative anaemia (haemoglobin from 10 to 12 g/dL). The duration of preoperative rHuEPO treatment varied across the trials, ranging from once a week to daily or a 5-to-10-day period, and in one trial preoperative rHuEPO was given on the morning of surgery and for five days postoperatively. We included 12 trials (participants = 1880) in the quantitative analysis of the need for RBC transfusion following preoperative treatment with rHuEPO + iron to correct preoperative anaemia in non-cardiac surgery; two studies were multiarmed trials with two different dose regimens. Preoperative rHuEPO + iron given to anaemic adults reduced the need RBC transfusion (risk ratio (RR) 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38 to 0.80; participants = 1880; studies = 12; I2 = 84%; moderate-quality evidence due to inconsistency). This analysis suggests that on average, the combined administration of rHuEPO + iron will mean 231 fewer individuals will need transfusion for every 1000 individuals compared to the control group. Preoperative high-dose rHuEPO + iron given to anaemic adults increased the haemoglobin concentration (mean difference (MD) 1.87 g/dL, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.49; participants = 852; studies = 3; I2 = 89%; low-quality evidence due to inconsistency and risk of bias) but not low-dose rHuEPO + iron (MD 0.11 g/dL, 95% CI -0.46 to 0.69; participants = 334; studies = 4; I2 = 69%; low-quality evidence due to inconsistency and risk of bias). There was probably little or no difference in the number of RBC units when rHuEPO + iron was given preoperatively (MD -0.09, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.05; participants = 1420; studies = 6; I2 = 2%; moderate-quality evidence due to imprecision).  There was probably little or no difference in the risk of mortality within 30 days of surgery (RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.39 to 3.63; participants = 230; studies = 2; I2 = 0%; moderate-quality evidence due to imprecision) or of adverse events including local rash, fever, constipation, or transient hypertension (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.28; participants = 1722; studies = 10; I2 = 0%; moderate-quality evidence due to imprecision). The administration of rHuEPO + iron before non-cardiac surgery did not clearly reduce the length of hospital stay of preoperative anaemic adults (MD -1.07, 95% CI -4.12 to 1.98; participants = 293; studies = 3; I2 = 87%; low-quality evidence due to inconsistency and imprecision).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Moderate-quality evidence suggests that preoperative rHuEPO + iron therapy for anaemic adults prior to non-cardiac surgery reduces the need for RBC transfusion and, when given at higher doses, increases the haemoglobin concentration preoperatively. The administration of rHuEPO + iron treatment did not decrease the mean number of units of RBC transfused per patient. There were no important differences in the risk of adverse events or mortality within 30 days, nor in length of hospital stay. Further, well-designed, adequately powered RCTs are required to estimate the impact of this combined treatment more precisely.

Anesthetic management of complex spine surgery in adult patients: a review based on outcome evidence

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this article is to review the evidence regarding the anesthetic management of blood loss, pain control, and position-related complications of adult patients undergoing complex spine procedures.

RECENT FINDINGS

The most recent evidence of the anesthetic management of complex spine surgery was identified with a systematic search and graded. In our review, prophylactic tranexamic acid and optimal prone positioning were shown to be effective blood conservation strategies with minimal risks to the patients. Cell saver was cost-effective in complex surgeries with expected blood loss of greater than 500 ml. As for pain control, most interventions only produced mild analgesic effects, suggesting a multimodal approach is necessary to achieve optimal pain control after spine surgery. Regional techniques and NSAIDs were effective but because of their risks, their usage should be discussed with the surgical team. Further studies are required to assess the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and risks associated with combined uses of different analgesic interventions. On the basis of the available evidence, we recommend a combined use of gabapentinoids, ketamine, and opioids to achieve optimal analgesia. Lastly, literature for position-related injuries is heavily relied on case reports and the Anesthesia Closed Claim Study because of their rarity. Therefore, we advocate for a structured team-based approach with checklists to minimize position-related complications.

SUMMARY

As the number and complexity of spine procedures are being performed worldwide is increasing, we suggested to bundle the aforementioned effective interventions as part of an ERAS spine protocol to improve the patient outcome of spine surgery.

The efficacy of pre-operative preparation with intravenous iron and/or erythropoietin in anaemic patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery: An observational study

BACKGROUND

Pre-operative anaemia and transfusion are common among patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery. Application of 'patient blood management' might be the most effective way to reduce both anaemia and transfusion. Pre-operative administration of iron and/or erythropoietin (EPO) is one of the cornerstones of the first pillar of patient blood management, but in a daily clinical setting, efficacy and long-term safety of this measure have not been analysed thoroughly to date.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of pre-operative preparation (PREP) of patients with iron and/or EPO on peri-operative transfusion needs and long-term survival.

DESIGN

Single-centre, retrospective study.

SETTING

Anaesthesia department, University hospital.

INTERVENTIONS

Pre-operative preparation with iron and/or EPO versus no preparation.

METHODS

After approval of our local ethics committee, data of 5518 patients who received total hip or total knee replacement between 2008 and 2014 were included. Patients receiving iron and/or EPO were included in the PREP group, whereas patients without iron and/or EPO were included in the no preparation group. From the full data set, a bias-reduced subset of 662 patients was obtained by means of propensity score-matching to compare peri-operative red blood cell utilisation and long-term survival of patients between groups.

RESULTS

Patients in the PREP group needed a lower number of units of red blood cells than patients in the no preparation group (0.2 ± 0.8 vs. 0.5 ± 1.3, P < 0.001), had a lower transfusion rate (12 vs. 24%, P < 0.05) and had a similar haemoglobin concentration (10.7 ± 1.3 vs. 10.6 ± 1.1 g dl, not significant) at discharge. No differences in long-term survival were observed between the two study groups.

CONCLUSION

PREP of patients with iron and/or EPO in orthopaedic patients can be considered highly effective in terms of transfusion reduction, without influencing long-term survival.

Effect of Perioperative Transfusion on Postoperative Morbidity Following Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy for Benign Indications

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) on postoperative infectious wound occurrences, sepsis-related events. and venous thromboembolism.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP).

PATIENTS

Patients who underwent a minimally invasive hysterectomy for benign indications between 2012 and 2016 were selected from the ACS-NSQIP. Patients with concurrent open hysterectomy, prolapse, or malignancy were excluded. Those with preoperative, intraoperative or postoperative red blood cell transfusion were considered positive for perioperative ABT.

INTERVENTION

Minimally invasive hysterectomy for benign indications.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Univariate analyses were performed to determine associations of preoperative and intraoperative patient variables and postoperative outcomes with perioperative ABT. Multivariate analysis was completed to test the independent associations of perioperative ABT with outcomes while adjusting for possible confounders. Of the 90,231 patients who met our inclusion criteria, 1447 had a perioperative transfusion (1.6%). Perioperative ABT was associated with multiple preoperative variables. After multivariate analysis, perioperative ABT remained significantly associated with infectious wound events (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-2.58; p < .001), thromboembolic events (aOR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.5-5.05; p = .001), and sepsis events (aOR, 6.49; 95% CI, 4.29-9.79, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

ABT is a commonly used to treat perioperative anemia in patients undergoing gynecologic surgery. The results of this study, however, show that perioperative ABT increases a patient's risk of postoperative complications following minimally invasive hysterectomy. Gynecologic surgeons should consider the use of alternative treatments for perioperative anemia, including intravenous iron supplementation, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, normovolemic hemodilution, and preoperative hormonal suppression, to help reduce the morbidity associated with perioperative ABT.

Patient Blood Management: Recommendations From the 2018 Frankfurt Consensus Conference

IMPORTANCE

Blood transfusion is one of the most frequently used therapies worldwide and is associated with benefits, risks, and costs.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a set of evidence-based recommendations for patient blood management (PBM) and for research.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

The scientific committee developed 17 Population/Intervention/Comparison/Outcome (PICO) questions for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in adult patients in 3 areas: preoperative anemia (3 questions), RBC transfusion thresholds (11 questions), and implementation of PBM programs (3 questions). These questions guided the literature search in 4 biomedical databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Transfusion Evidence Library), searched from inception to January 2018. Meta-analyses were conducted with the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) methodology and the Evidence-to-Decision framework by 3 panels including clinical and scientific experts, nurses, patient representatives, and methodologists, to develop clinical recommendations during a consensus conference in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, in April 2018.

FINDINGS

From 17 607 literature citations associated with the 17 PICO questions, 145 studies, including 63 randomized clinical trials with 23 143 patients and 82 observational studies with more than 4 million patients, were analyzed. For preoperative anemia, 4 clinical and 3 research recommendations were developed, including the strong recommendation to detect and manage anemia sufficiently early before major elective surgery. For RBC transfusion thresholds, 4 clinical and 6 research recommendations were developed, including 2 strong clinical recommendations for critically ill but clinically stable intensive care patients with or without septic shock (recommended threshold for RBC transfusion, hemoglobin concentration <7 g/dL) as well as for patients undergoing cardiac surgery (recommended threshold for RBC transfusion, hemoglobin concentration <7.5 g/dL). For implementation of PBM programs, 2 clinical and 3 research recommendations were developed, including recommendations to implement comprehensive PBM programs and to use electronic decision support systems (both conditional recommendations) to improve appropriate RBC utilization.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The 2018 PBM International Consensus Conference defined the current status of the PBM evidence base for practice and research purposes and established 10 clinical recommendations and 12 research recommendations for preoperative anemia, RBC transfusion thresholds for adults, and implementation of PBM programs. The relative paucity of strong evidence to answer many of the PICO questions supports the need for additional research and an international consensus for accepted definitions and hemoglobin thresholds, as well as clinically meaningful end points for multicenter trials.

Preoperative screening and intervention for mild anemia with low iron stores in elective hip and knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Preoperative anemia in patients undergoing elective hip and knee arthroplasty is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality, red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, and length of stay (LOS). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of optimizing hemoglobin (Hb) levels before elective primary hip and knee arthroplasty.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This is a prospective comparative cohort study of patients who underwent elective hip and knee arthroplasty before (control) and after (intervention) the launch of a Hb optimization program. Patients with anemia followed an agreed upon algorithm dependent on their medical history and blood variables taken on listing for surgery. The primary outcome for this study was the requirement for allogenic RBC transfusion. Secondary outcomes included hospital LOS, admission to critical care, readmission, medical complications, incidence of thromboembolic events, mortality, and costs.

RESULTS

A total of 1814 control patients operated between February 2012 and February 2013 were compared to 1622 intervention patients operated between February 2013 and May 2014. In the intervention group transfusion was significantly reduced (108 [6%] vs. 63 [4.1%], p = 0.005) as well as readmission (81 [4.5%] vs. 48 [2.3%], p= 0.020) and critical care admission (23 [1.3%] vs. 9 [0.5%], p = 0.030). LOS was significantly reduced from 3.9 days to 3.6 days (p = 0.017). The saving for the cohort was £263,000 ($342,000).

CONCLUSIONS

Algorithm-led preoperative anemia screening and management in elective arthroplasty was associated with reduced RBC transfusion, readmission, critical care admission, LOS, and costs.

Spine Surgery and Blood Loss: Systematic Review of Clinical Evidence

Spine surgery has been growing rapidly as a neurosurgical operation, with an increase of 220% over a 15-year period. Intraoperative blood transfusion is a major outcome determinant of spine procedures. Various approaches, including pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies, have been tested to decrease both intraoperative and postoperative blood loss. The aim of this systematic review is to report clinical evidence on the relationship between intraoperative blood loss (primary outcome) and on transfusion requirements and postoperative complications (secondary outcomes) in patients undergoing spine surgery. A literature search of PubMed database was performed using 5 key words: spine surgery and transfusion; spine surgery and blood loss; spine surgery and blood complications; spine surgery and deep vein thrombosis; and spine surgery and pulmonary embolism. Clinical reports (randomized controlled trials, prospective and retrospective studies, and case reports) were selected. A total of 473 articles were examined; 450 were excluded, and 24 were selected for this systematic review. Selected articles were categorized into 3 subchapters: (1) drugs active on coagulation (12 studies): tranexamic acid, aminocaproic acid, aprotinin, and recombinant activated factor VII; (2) drugs not active on coagulation (5 studies): ketorolac, epoetin alfa, magnesium sulfate, propofol/sevoflurane, and omega-3 and fish oil; (3) nonpharmacologic approaches (7 studies): surgical tips, patient positioning, and general or spinal anesthesia. Several studies have shown a significant reduction in intraoperative bleeding during spine surgery and in the requirement for blood transfusion.

Does Postoperative Erythropoietin Reduce Transfusions and Hemodynamic Instability Following Liposuction, Either Alone or Associated with Abdominoplasty or Mammaplasty? A Comparative, Prospective Study of 50 Consecutive Patients

INTRODUCTION

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hematopoietic growth factor and an alternative to avoid blood transfusion in high-blood-loss surgeries. We evaluate EPO efficacy to reduce clinically relevant anemia and dehydration in patients undergoing liposuction.

METHODS

We prospectively evaluated 50 consecutive patients subjected to liposuction greater than 2.5 L and alternately assigned into two comparable groups (25 patients each), except for the postoperative administration of erythropoietin (4000 UI per day subcutaneously) during five consecutive days. Incidence data for blood transfusion or parenteral hydration were collected. Statistical analyses were performed with significance at p value <5%.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between groups related to any preoperative feature or the incidence of dehydration (p = 0.1099) or transfusion (p = 1.0).

CONCLUSION

Postoperative erythropoietin administration was not effective in preventing blood transfusion for anemia or parenteral hydration for hemodynamic instability in patients undergoing major liposuction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors http://www.springer.com/00266.

Spine tumor resection among patients who refuse blood product transfusion: a retrospective case series

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To describe the perioperative blood conservation strategies and postoperative outcomes in patients who undergo complex spinal surgery for tumor resection and who also refuse blood product transfusion.

DESIGN

A retrospective case series.

SETTING

A single-center, tertiary care and academic teaching hospital in Canada.

PATIENTS

All adult patients undergoing elective major spine tumor resection and refusing blood product transfusion who were referred to our institutional Blood Utilization Program between June 1, 2004, and May 9, 2014.

MEASUREMENTS

Data on the use of iron, erythropoietin, preoperative autologous blood donation, acute normovolemic hemodilution, antifibrinolytic therapy, cell salvage, intraoperative hypotension, and active warming techniques were collected. Data on perioperative hemoglobin nadir, adverse outcomes, and hospital length of stay were also collected.

MAIN RESULTS

Four patients who refused blood transfusion (self-identified as Jehovah's Witnesses) underwent non-emergent complex spine surgery for recurrent chondrosarcoma, meningioma, metastatic adenocarcinoma, and metastatic malignant melanoma. All patients received 1 or more perioperative blood conservation strategy including preoperative iron and/or erythropoietin, intraoperative antifibrinolytic therapy, and cell salvage. No patients experienced severe perioperative anemia (average hemoglobin nadir, 124 g/L) or anemia-related postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who decline blood product transfusion can successfully undergo major spine tumor resection. Careful patient selection and timely referral for perioperative optimization such that the risk of severe anemia is minimized are important for success.

Comparison of Blood Loss After Total Hip Arthroplasty Between Ankylosing Spondylitis and Osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to compare the blood loss during primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and hip osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

We reviewed 120 THAs in 68 patients comprising 3 groups: AS with total bony ankylosis of the hips (ASB), AS with stiff hips (ASS), and OA. Demographics, perioperative laboratory values, intraoperative data, blood loss, transfusion rate, transfusion reactions, surgical complications, hospitalization cost, and length of stay (LOS) were collected and analyzed among ASB, ASS, and OA groups.

RESULTS

The patients of the ASB and ASS groups were much younger and thinner than those of the OA group. There were no significant differences in the preoperative values of activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, and international normalized ratio among the 3 groups (all P > .05). The intraoperative blood loss, volume of drainage, hidden blood loss, transfusion rate, transfusion reactions, and hospitalization cost in the ASB group were significantly higher than in the other 2 groups, although not significantly different between the ASS and OA groups (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

Both AS and OA can cause hyperosteogeny to the hips, but ASB patients have more serious symptoms in their affected hips. This may cause more blood loss in THA surgery because of bone surface bleeding. The reason that ASB patients suffered more blood loss may be related to the high difficulty and long duration of the operation.

Forum for debate: Safety of allogeneic blood transfusion alternatives in the surgical/critically ill patient

In recent years, several safety alerts have questioned or restricted the use of some pharmacological alternatives to allogeneic blood transfusion in established indications. In contrast, there seems to be a promotion of other alternatives, based on blood products and/or antifibrinolytic drugs, which lack a solid scientific basis. The Multidisciplinary Autotransfusion Study Group and the Anemia Working Group España convened a multidisciplinary panel of 23 experts belonging to different healthcare areas in a forum for debate to: 1) analyze the different safety alerts referred to certain transfusion alternatives; 2) study the background leading to such alternatives, the evidence supporting them, and their consequences for everyday clinical practice, and 3) issue a weighted statement on the safety of each questioned transfusion alternative, according to its clinical use. The members of the forum maintained telematics contact for the exchange of information and the distribution of tasks, and a joint meeting was held where the conclusions on each of the items examined were presented and discussed. A first version of the document was drafted, and subjected to 4 rounds of review and updating until consensus was reached (unanimously in most cases). We present the final version of the document, approved by all panel members, and hope it will be useful for our colleagues.

Implementation of a patient blood management program in pediatric scoliosis surgery

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether the implementation of a blood conservation program, and the adoption and progressive association of different methods, reduces transfusion requirements in pediatric patients undergoing scoliosis surgery of different origins.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Quasi-experimental, nonrandomized, descriptive study, approved by the Ethics Committee for Research of our institution. 50 pediatric patients (ASA I-III) aged 5 to 18 years, undergoing scoliosis surgery of any etiology by a single posterior or double approach (anterior and posterior) were included. A historical group with no alternatives to transfusion: Group No ahorro=15 patients (retrospective data collection) was compared with another 3 prospective study groups: Group HNA (acute normovolemic hemodilution)=9 patients; Group HNA+Rec (intraoperative blood salvage)=14 patients, and Group EPO (HNA+Rec+erythropoietin±preoperative donation)=12 patients; according with the implementation schedule of the transfusion alternatives in our institution.

RESULTS

The rate of transfusion in different groups (No ahorro, HNA, HNA+Rec, EPO) was 100, 66, 57, and 0% of the patients, respectively, with a mean±SD of 3.40±1.59; 1.33±1.41; 1.43±1.50; 0±0 RBC units transfused per patient, respectively. Statistically significant differences (P<.001) were found in both the transfusion rate and number of RBC units.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of a multimodal blood transfusion alternatives program, individualized for each pediatric patient undergoing scoliosis surgery can avoid transfusion in all cases.

Blood transfusion practices in neuroanaesthesia

Neuroanaesthesia practice is associated with risk of significant blood loss resulting in anaemia in the intraoperative and postoperative period. The transfusion triggers in a neurologically injured brain are not clearly defined. Both a low haematocrit and a high haematocrit have not shown any improvement in the outcome. Transfusion of red blood cells may improve the cerebral oxygenation on neurophysiological monitors. However, these benefits have not been translated into clinical practice. Transfusion in subarachnoid haemorrhage leads to increased incidence of vasospasm and a poor outcome. Restrictive transfusion strategy is seen to have a lower incidence of pneumonia, urinary tract infection, bacteremia and septic shock in severe head injury. Current evidence suggests that a haemoglobin (Hb) level of <7 g/dl may be deleterious to the neurosurgical population. Target Hb of 8-9 g/dl may be desirable intraoperatively. Different transfusion triggers may hold true for different neurosurgical pathologies.

Phosphorus binding with ferric citrate is associated with fewer hospitalizations and reduced hospitalization costs

BACKGROUND

Ferric citrate (FC) is a new phosphorus binder shown to increase serum iron stores while reducing intravenous iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agent usage. Such reductions could lower hospitalization rates and associated costs.

METHODS

Hospitalizations during a Phase III trial were compared between FC and active control (AC). Hospitalization costs were estimated using the 2013 US Renal Data System Annual Data Report.

RESULTS

34.6% of FC patients were hospitalized at least once versus 45.6% of the AC group (risk reduction 24.2%; p = 0.02). There were 181 unique hospitalizations in the FC group versus 239 in the AC group, for a difference of 58 hospitalizations. Total potential savings was US$ 867,622 in hospitalization costs in the FC group. If the hospitalization reduction in our study was applied to the general end-stage renal disease population, this could translate into a savings of US$ 3002/patient/year.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients receiving FC experienced fewer hospitalizations with the potential for significant savings.

Blood Conservation in Neurosurgery: Erythropoietin and Autologous Donation

Background

Neurosurgery may involve significant blood loss and frequently requires allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Preoperative recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) may be used to improve erythroid status and recovery, and used either alone or in combination with preoperative autologous donation (PAD) it may reduce exposure to allogeneic RBC. We wished to study the use of EPO with and without PAD and the risk of RBC transfusion in neurosurgery.

Methods

Using a retrospective case-control design, 57 patients who received EPO preoperatively were matched 2:1 for age, sex, year of surgery, and International Classification of Diseases code most responsible for surgery (three were excluded because of stringent matching criteria, leaving 54 cases and 108 comparison subjects). Thirty-two cases participated in PAD. Medical and anesthetic records as well as laboratory investigations were reviewed and extracted.

Results

Allogeneic RBC exposure was identical for EPO cases and comparison subjects (18.5%). Concomitant PAD and EPO did not reduce allogeneic RBC exposure (21.9%), and resulted in a greater number of RBC units transfused. Last recorded hemoglobin levels suggested that autologous RBCs were not more liberally used. Patients who engaged in PAD and EPO suffered from iatrogenic anemia. A significant proportion (58.6%) of the autologous RBCs was ultimately not used and discarded.

Conclusion

Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of EPO in neurological surgery. PAD does not appear to reduce the risk of allogeneic RBC transfusion, despite concomitant EPO. Indeed, PAD resulted in iatrogenic anemia and increased transfusion requirements. The cost-effectiveness of blood conservation efforts in neurosurgery deserves additional research.

Patient blood management in elective total hip- and knee-replacement surgery (Part 1): a randomized controlled trial on erythropoietin and blood salvage as transfusion alternatives using a restrictive transfusion policy in erythropoietin-eligible patients

BACKGROUND

Patient blood management combines the use of several transfusion alternatives. Integrated use of erythropoietin, cell saver, and/or postoperative drain reinfusion devices on allogeneic erythrocyte use was evaluated using a restrictive transfusion threshold.

METHODS

In a factorial design, adult elective hip- and knee-surgery patients with hemoglobin levels 10 to 13 g/dl (n = 683) were randomized for erythropoietin or not, and subsequently for autologous reinfusion by cell saver or postoperative drain reinfusion devices or for no blood salvage device. Primary outcomes were mean allogeneic intra- and postoperative erythrocyte use and proportion of transfused patients (transfusion rate). Secondary outcome was cost-effectiveness.

RESULTS

With erythropoietin (n = 339), mean erythrocyte use was 0.50 units (U)/patient and transfusion rate 16% while without (n = 344), these were 0.71 U/patient and 26%, respectively. Consequently, erythropoietin resulted in a nonsignificant 29% mean erythrocyte reduction (ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.42 to 1.13) and 50% reduction of transfused patients (odds ratio, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.75). Erythropoietin increased costs by €785 per patient (95% CI, 262 to 1,309), that is, €7,300 per avoided transfusion (95% CI, 1,900 to 24,000). With autologous reinfusion, mean erythrocyte use was 0.65 U/patient and transfusion rate was 19% with erythropoietin (n = 214) and 0.76 U/patient and 29% without (n = 206). Compared with controls, autologous blood reinfusion did not result in erythrocyte reduction and increased costs by €537 per patient (95% CI, 45 to 1,030).

CONCLUSIONS

In hip- and knee-replacement patients (hemoglobin level, 10 to 13 g/dl), even with a restrictive transfusion trigger, erythropoietin significantly avoids transfusion, however, at unacceptably high costs. Autologous blood salvage devices were not effective.

[Patient Blood Management : three pillar strategy to improve outcome through avoidance of allogeneic blood products]

Blood transfusions are commonly viewed as life-saving interventions; however, current evidence shows that blood transfusions are associated with a significant increase of morbidity and mortality in a dose-dependent relationship. Not only explanatory models of basic research but also the results from randomized controlled trials suggest a causal relationship between blood transfusion and adverse outcome. Therefore, it can be claimed that the current state of science debunks the long held belief in the so-called life-saving blood transfusion by exposing the potential for promoting disease and death. Adherence to the precautionary principle and also the fact that blood transfusions are more costly than previously assumed require novel approaches in the treatment of anemia and bleeding. Patient Blood Management (PBM) allows transfusion rates to be dramatically reduced through correcting anemia by stimulating erythropoiesis, minimization of perioperative blood loss and harnessing and optimizing the physiological tolerance of anemia. A resolution of the World Health Assembly has endorsed PBM and therefore morbidity and mortality should be significantly reduced by lowering of the currently high blood utilization rate of allogeneic blood products in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

Erythropoietin doping in cycling: lack of evidence for efficacy and a negative risk-benefit

Imagine a medicine that is expected to have very limited effects based upon knowledge of its pharmacology and (patho)physiology and that is studied in the wrong population, with low-quality studies that use a surrogate end-point that relates to the clinical end-point in a partial manner at most. Such a medicine would surely not be recommended. The use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) to enhance performance in cycling is very common. A qualitative systematic review of the available literature was performed to examine the evidence for the ergogenic properties of this drug, which is normally used to treat anaemia in chronic renal failure patients. The results of this literature search show that there is no scientific basis from which to conclude that rHuEPO has performance-enhancing properties in elite cyclists. The reported studies have many shortcomings regarding translation of the results to professional cycling endurance performance. Additionally, the possibly harmful side-effects have not been adequately researched for this population but appear to be worrying, at least. The use of rHuEPO in cycling is rife but scientifically unsupported by evidence, and its use in sports is medical malpractice. What its use would have been, if the involved team physicians had been trained in clinical pharmacology and had investigated this properly, remains a matter of speculation. A single well-controlled trial in athletes in real-life circumstances would give a better indication of the real advantages and risk factors of rHuEPO use, but it would be an oversimplification to suggest that this would eradicate its use.

Evaluation and management of anemia in the elderly

Anemia is now recognized as a risk factor for a number of adverse outcomes in the elderly, including hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. What constitutes appropriate evaluation and management for an elderly patient with anemia, and when to initiate a referral to a hematologist, are significant issues. Attempts to identify suggested hemoglobin levels for blood transfusion therapy have been confounded for elderly patients with their co-morbidities. Since no specific recommended hemoglobin threshold has stood the test of time, prudent transfusion practices to maintain hemoglobin thresholds of 9-10 g/dL in the elderly are indicated, unless or until evidence emerges to indicate otherwise.

Cardiac considerations in the operative management of the patient with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) is a progressive multisystem neuromuscular disorder. In addition to the skeletal muscle, the myocardium in the DMD/BMD patient is dystrophin deficient which results in a progressive cardiomyopathy. The myopathic myocardium poses significant risk of increased morbidity and mortality at the time of major surgical procedures. Careful attention must be given to the DMD/BMD patient during the intraoperative and postoperative period. Anesthesia selection is critical and anesthetics should be avoided which have been shown to be harmful in this patient population. Preanesthesia assessment should include cardiac consultation and detailed preoperative evaluation. Intraoperative management needs to insure that the weakened myocardium is not compromised by physiologic changes such as hypotension or major fluid shifts. Finally, attention to the cardiac status of the patient must continue into the postoperative period. The surgical care of the DMD/BMD patient requires a multispecialty approach to insure operative success.

Blood management

Blood management is a system-based comprehensive approach that uses evidence-based medicine to facilitate an environment to encourage an appropriate use of blood products in the hospital setting. The ultimate goal of a blood-management program is to improve patient outcomes by integrating all available techniques to ensure safety, availability, and appropriate allocation of blood products. It is a patient-centered, multidisciplinary, multimodal, planned approach to the management of patients and blood products.

Alternatives to blood transfusion

The use of alternatives to allogeneic blood continues to rest on the principles that blood transfusions have inherent risks, associated costs, and affect the blood inventory available for health-care delivery. Increasing evidence exists of a fall in the use of blood because of associated costs and adverse outcomes, and suggests that the challenge for the use of alternatives to blood components will similarly be driven by costs and patient outcomes. Additionally, the risk-benefit profiles of alternatives to blood transfusion such as autologous blood procurement, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, and haemostatic agents are under investigation. Nevertheless, the inherent risks of blood, along with the continued rise in blood costs are likely to favour the continued development and use of alternatives to blood transfusion. We summarise the current roles of alternatives to blood in the management of medical and surgical anaemias.

[The 2013 Seville Consensus Document on alternatives to allogenic blood transfusion. An update on the Seville Document]

Since allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) is not harmless, multiple alternatives to ABT (AABT) have emerged, though there is great variability in their indications and appropriate use. This variability results from the interaction of a number of factors, including the specialty of the physician, knowledge and preferences, the degree of anemia, transfusion policy, and AABT availability. Since AABTs are not harmless and may not meet cost-effectiveness criteria, such variability is unacceptable. The Spanish Societies of Anesthesiology (SEDAR), Hematology and Hemotherapy (SEHH), Hospital Pharmacy (SEFH), Critical Care Medicine (SEMICYUC), Thrombosis and Hemostasis (SETH) and Blood Transfusion (SETS) have developed a Consensus Document for the proper use of AABTs. A panel of experts convened by these 6 Societies have conducted a systematic review of the medical literature and have developed the 2013 Seville Consensus Document on Alternatives to Allogeneic Blood Transfusion, which only considers those AABT aimed at decreasing the transfusion of packed red cells. AABTs are defined as any pharmacological or non-pharmacological measure aimed at decreasing the transfusion of red blood cell concentrates, while preserving patient safety. For each AABT, the main question formulated, positively or negatively, is: « Does this particular AABT reduce the transfusion rate or not?» All the recommendations on the use of AABTs were formulated according to the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology.

[The 2013 Seville Consensus Document on alternatives to allogenic blood transfusion. An update on the Seville Document]

Since allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) is not harmless, multiple alternatives to ABT (AABT) have emerged, though there is great variability in their indications and appropriate use. This variability results from the interaction of a number of factors, including the specialty of the physician, knowledge and preferences, the degree of anemia, transfusion policy, and AABT availability. Since AABTs are not harmless and may not meet cost-effectiveness criteria, such variability is unacceptable. The Spanish Societies of Anesthesiology (SEDAR), Hematology and Hemotherapy (SEHH), Hospital Pharmacy (SEFH), Critical Care Medicine (SEMICYUC), Thrombosis and Hemostasis (SETH) and Blood Transfusion (SETS) have developed a Consensus Document for the proper use of AABTs. A panel of experts convened by these 6 Societies have conducted a systematic review of the medical literature and have developed the 2013 Seville Consensus Document on Alternatives to Allogeneic Blood Transfusion, which only considers those AABT aimed at decreasing the transfusion of packed red cells. AABTs are defined as any pharmacological or non-pharmacological measure aimed at decreasing the transfusion of red blood cell concentrates, while preserving patient safety. For each AABT, the main question formulated, positively or negatively, is: "Does this particular AABT reduce the transfusion rate or not?" All the recommendations on the use of AABTs were formulated according to the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology.

Update in critical care for the nephrologist: transfusion in nonhemorrhaging critically ill patients

A growing number of guidelines and recommendations advocate a restrictive transfusion strategy. Strong evidence exists that a hemoglobin threshold of less than 7 g/dL conserves resources and may improve outcomes in critically ill patients and that platelet counts greater than 10,000/μL are well tolerated. Patients with coronary artery disease can be safely managed with a restrictive transfusion strategy, utilizing a hemoglobin threshold of less than 7 or 8 g/dL; a threshold of less than 8 g/dL can be applied to patients with acute coronary syndromes. In the absence of coagulopathy with bleeding or high risk for bleeding, plasma transfusion should be withheld. Complications from transfusion are significant and previously under-recognized immunologic complications pose a more serious threat than infections. Erythropoietin and iron administration do not reduce transfusion needs in the critically ill. Interventions to reduce blood loss and educate clinicians are successful in reducing transfusion requirements.