A SINGLE-UNIT OF TRANSFUSED ALLOGENEIC BLOOD INCREASES POSTOPERATIVE INFECTIONS

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate if there was a stati stical correlation between allogeneic blood transfusion and postoperat ive infections, and if this could have a dose-dependent pattern. The e valuation was based on multiple logistic and receiver operating charac teristics (ROC) curve analyses. On hospital admission the following pa rameters were determined in 267 consecutive patients with colorectal c ancer: hemoglobin, serum albumin, serum cholinesterase activity, total iron binding capacity and weight loss. Duration of operation, operati ve blood loss, amount of transfused blood, Dukes' cancer stage and occ urrence of postoperative infections were also recorded. One hundred an d thirty-two patients (49.4%) were given perioperatively allogeneic bl ood. Postoperative infections developed in 47 (17.6%) patients. Multiv ariate analysis identified allogeneic blood transfusion as the only va riable related to the occurrence of postoperative infections (p<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the risk for the occurrence of infecti on was significantly higher in patients transfused one unit of blood ( p<0.01). Moreover, a significant trend between increasing number of tr ansfused blood units and susceptibility to infection was found (p<0.00 019).