Background: The present study investigated relationships between perioperative blood transfusion, postoperative systemic inflammatory response, and outcomes following surgery for colorectal cancer.
Methods: Data were recorded for patients (n = 544) undergoing potentially curative, elective surgery for colorectal cancer at a single center between 2012 and 2017. Transfusion history was obtained retrospectively from electronic records. Associations between blood transfusion, postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, hemoglobin, complications, cancer-specific survival and overall survival (OS) were assessed using propensity score matching (n =116).
Results: Of 544 patients, the majority were male (n =294, 54%), over 65 years of age (n =350, 64%), and with colonic (n =347, 64%) node-negative disease (n =353, 65%). Eighty-six patients (16%) required perioperative blood transfusion. In the unmatched cohort, blood transfusion was associated with higher median postoperative day (POD) 3 CRP {143 [interquartile range (IQR) 96-221 mg/L] vs. 120 (IQR 72-188 mg/L); p = 0.004}, lower median POD 3 albumin [24 (IQR 20-26 g/L) vs. 27 (IQR 24-30 g/L); p < 0.001], more postoperative complications [odds ratio (OR) 3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.03-5.29] and poorer OS [hazard ratio (HR) 3.18, 95% CI 2.08-4.84]. In the propensity score matched cohort, blood transfusion was similarly associated with higher median POD 3 CRP [130 (IQR 93-196 mg/L) vs. 113 (IQR 66-173 mg/L); p = 0.046], lower median POD 3 albumin [24 (IQR 20-26 g/L) vs. 26 (IQR 24-30 g/L); p < 0.001], more postoperative complications (OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.36-6.20) and poorer OS (HR 2.38, 95% CI 0.99-5.73).
Conclusions: Perioperative blood transfusion was associated with postoperative inflammation, complications, and poorer survival in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery, with and without propensity score techniques.