The impact of intraoperative autologous blood transfusion during type III radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects on transfusio n rates, perioperative complications, and survival of using intraoperative autologous blood transfusions for patients undergoing type III radical hyst erectomy and lymphadenectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 156 patients treate d with type III radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy at the University of Miami School of Medicine from 1990 to 1997. One group of patients (n = 5 0) had intraoperative autologous blood transfusions and the other (n = 106) did not. RESULTS: The group that received intraoperative autologous blood transfusio n had a significant reduction in homologous blood transfusions (12% vs 30%; P = .02). Patient demographic data, histologic parameters, and operative f actors were similar between the 2 groups. There was a higher percentage of patients with positive pelvic lymph nodes in the group that did not receive intraoperative autologous blood transfusion (10% vs 30%; P = .02). Seven p atients in the intraoperative autologous blood transfusion group (14%) died with disease present and all the recurrences in this group were local. CONCLUSION: The use of intraoperative autologous blood transfusions during type III radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy appears to be safe and ef fective without compromising rates and patterns of recurrence.