BLOOD-TRANSFUSION AND SURVIVAL IN COLORECTAL-CANCER

PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of blood transfusion on the pr ognosisof patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. METHODS: Potentially curative resections for colorectal cancer were performed i n 266 patients who were followed prospectively, with a minimum follow- up of 41 months. They were divided into transfused (n = 121) and nontr ansfused (n = 145) groups according totheir perioperative blood transf usion requirements. RESULTS: There were significantly more rectal tumo rs (X(2) = 9.5, df = 1, P = 0.002) and fixedtumors (X(2) = 4.5, df = 1 , P = 0.03) in the transfused group. Therewas no statistically signifi cant difference between the two groups with regard to recurrence-free survival (X(2) = 1.1, df = 1, P = 0.3) and overall survival (X(2) = 2. 8, df = 1, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In this studywe have found no statis tically significant effect of perioperative blood transfusion on the p rognosis of colorectal cancer patients.