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Perioperative blood transfusion does not decrease survival after surgical treatment of spinal metastases

European Spine Journal volume 23, pages 1791–1796 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

To assess whether perioperative allogenic blood transfusions in patients undergoing surgical treatment for spinal metastases independently influence patient survival.

Methods

A retrospective study including 170 consecutive patients undergoing surgical treatment for spinal metastases in 2009 and 2010 at a tertiary referral center. Variables related to postoperative survival were all included in the same multivariable logistic regression analysis with either 3- or 12-month survival as the dependent variable. The independent variables were: transfusion of allogenic red blood cells, age at surgery, gender, preoperative hemoglobin, revised Tokuhashi score and no. of instrumented levels.

Results

Perioperative allogenic blood transfusion of 1–2 units was associated with increased 12-month survival [p = 0.049, odds ratio 2.619 (confidence interval 1.004–6.831)], but not with 3-month survival. Larger transfusion volumes did not significantly influence survival.

Conclusion

The results of the present study support that perioperative blood transfusion of <5 units does not decrease survival in patients operated for spinal metastases. Transfusion of 1–2 units seems to be associated with increased 12-month survival. Future studies should assess if a liberal transfusion regime can be applied to this group of patients; thereby, prioritizing early postoperative mobilization.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Section of Cardiovascular Radiology, Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Caroline Clausen, Lars Lönn & Susanne Christiansen Frevert

  2. Department of Vascular Surgery, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lars Lönn

  3. Spine Unit, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Søren Schmidt Morgen & Benny Dahl

  4. Section of Ultrasound, Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Michael Bachmann Nielsen

  5. Section of Transfusion Medicine, Department of Clinical Immunology, Capital Region Blood Bank, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Pär Ingemar Johansson

  6. Department of Surgery, CeTIR, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Pär Ingemar Johansson

Authors
  1. Caroline Clausen
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  2. Lars Lönn
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  3. Søren Schmidt Morgen
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  4. Michael Bachmann Nielsen
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  5. Susanne Christiansen Frevert
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  6. Pär Ingemar Johansson
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  7. Benny Dahl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Caroline Clausen.

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Clausen, C., Lönn, L., Morgen, S.S. et al. Perioperative blood transfusion does not decrease survival after surgical treatment of spinal metastases. Eur Spine J 23, 1791–1796 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3330-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3330-y

Keywords

  • Spinal neoplasms
  • Spinal metastases
  • Spinal surgery
  • Blood transfusion
  • Survival
  • Mortality