Postoperative transfusion hemoglobin threshold and functional recovery after high‐risk oncologic surgery: A randomized controlled pilot study

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundRobust evidence to inform best transfusion management after major oncologic surgery, where postoperative recovery might impact treatment regimens for cancer, is lacking. We conducted a study to validate the feasibility of a larger trial comparing liberal versus restrictive red blood cells (RBC) transfusion strategies after major oncologic surgery.Study Design and MethodsThis was a two‐center, randomized, controlled, study of patients admitted to the intensive care unit after major oncologic surgery. Patients whose hemoglobin level dropped below 9.5 g/dL, were randomly assigned to immediately receive a 1‐unit RBC transfusion (liberal) or delayed until the hemoglobin level dropped below 7.5 g/dL (restrictive). The primary outcome was the median hemoglobin level between randomization to day 30 post‐surgery. Disability‐free survival was evaluated by the WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire.Results30 patients were randomized (15 patients/group) in 15 months with a mean recruitment rate of 1.8 patients per month. The median hemoglobin level was significantly higher in the liberal group than in the restrictive group: 10.1 g/dL (IQR 9.6–10.5) versus 8.8 g/dL (IQR 8.3–9.4), p < .001, and RBC transfusion rates were 100% versus 66.7%, p = .04. The disability‐free survival was similar between groups: 26.7% versus 20%, p = 1.DiscussionOur results support the feasibility of a phase 3 randomized controlled trial comparing the impact of liberal versus restrictive transfusion strategies on the functional recovery of critically ill patients following major oncologic surgery.