Leukocyte-depletion of blood components does not significantly reduce the risk of infectious complications - Results of a double-blinded, randomized study

Allogeneic blood transfusions are claimed to be an independent risk factor for postoperative infections in open colorectal surgery due to immunomodula tion. Leukocyte-depletion of erythrocyte suspensions has been shown in some open randomized studies to reduce the rate of postoperative infection to l evels observed in nontransfused patients. Using a double-blinded, randomize d design, we studied the postoperative infection rate in patients undergoin g open colorectal surgery transfused with either leukocyte-depleted erythro cyte suspensions (LD-SAGM) or non-leukocyte-depleted erythrocyte suspension s (SAGM). Unselected patients (n 279) were allocated to receive LD-SAGM (n 139) or SAGM (n 140) if transfusion was indicated. Forty-five percent were transfused, yielding 48 patients in the LD-SAGM group and 64 in the SAGM gr oup. Thirteen patients were excluded because they received one type of tran sfusion in spite of randomization to the other type. No significant differe nces in the rates of postoperative infections (P = 0.5250) or postoperative complications (P = 0.1779) were seen between the two transfused groups. In fection rates were 45% and 38% in the transfused groups and 21% and 23% in the nontransfused groups. No significant difference between the transfused groups was seen on any single infectious event, mortality rate, or duration of hospitalization. Leukocyte-depletion of erythrocyte suspensions transfu sed to patients undergoing open colorectal surgery does not reduce postoper ative infection rates.