Blood transfusion increases the risk of surgical infection
Jensen, L.S.; Andersen, A.J.; Christiansen, P.M.; Hokland, P.; Juhl, C.O.; Madsen, G.; Mortensen, J.; Møller-Nielsen, C.; Sørensen, F.H.; Hokland, M.E.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 155(41): 3263-3266
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 8256318 Document Number: 419641
In a prospective randomized trial the frequency of infectious complications and natural killer cell function were investigated in 197 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery and having either no blood transfusion (n = 93), transfusion with whole blood (n = 56), or filtered blood free from leucocytes (n = 48). Postoperative infections developed in 13 patients transfused with whole blood (23%), in one patient transfused with blood free from leucocytes (2%) and in two non-transfused patients (2%) (p < 0.01). Natural killer cell function was significantly (p < 0.001) impaired up to 30 days after surgery in patients transfused with whole blood. These data provide a strong case against the use of whole blood transfusion in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.