Key result
Perioperative blood transfusion was associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence across most sites, including colorectal cancer (RR 1.49; 95% CI 1.23-1.79), though confounding is likely.
Why the study?
Does perioperative blood transfusion increase cancer recurrence in patients undergoing cancer surgery?
Population
Patients from 60 observational studies undergoing surgery for six cancer sites: colorectum, breast, head and…
Comparison
Perioperative blood transfusion vs No perioperative blood transfusion
Design
Meta-analysis
Authors
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Should not change perioperative transfusion practice in cancer surgery; leaves open whether the recurrence association is causal or confounded.
Meta-Analysis
Does perioperative blood transfusion increase cancer recurrence in patients undergoing cancer surgery?
Relative Risk: 1.49 (95% CI 1.23–1.79)
p-value: p=<0.05
The apparent association between perioperative blood transfusion and cancer recurrence in observational studies may be largely due to confounding rather than a true deleterious effect.
Eleftherios C. Vamvakas (1995) conducted a meta-analysis in Cancer. Perioperative blood transfusion vs. No transfusion was evaluated on Cancer recurrence (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.23-1.79, p=<0.05). Perioperative blood transfusion was associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence across most sites, including colorectal cancer (RR 1.49; 95% CI 1.23-1.79), though confounding is likely.
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