Hemodynamics, fluids & transfusion
Association between peri‐operative red blood cell transfusion and cancer recurrence in patients undergoing major cancer surgery: an umbrella review*
Authors' conclusion
Currently available evidence describes an association between peri-operative red blood cell transfusion and cancer recurrence, but this is mostly of low to critically low quality, with minimal control for residual confounding.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing major cancer surgery5 systematic reviews
- Comparison
- Peri-operative allogeneic RBC transfusion vs no transfusion
- Outcome
- Cancer recurrence
Methodological detailssystematic review of systematic reviews, AMSTAR 2 quality assessment, consensus-derived confounding framework, Included reviews' populations ranged from 2110 to 184,190 patients
- Systematic review of systematic reviews
- AMSTAR 2 quality assessment
- Consensus-derived confounding framework
- Included reviews' populations ranged from 2110 to 184,190 patients
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
- Two reviews reported cancer recurrence; all reported an association with RBC transfusion
Further pooled results
All-cause mortality, recurrence-free survival, cancer-related mortality
- Three reviews reported positive associations between RBC transfusion and these adverse outcomes
Quality of evidence (AMSTAR 2)
- Reviews rated 'critically low quality'
- 4
- Reviews rated 'low quality'
- 1
- High likelihood of unmeasured confounding vs pre-derived framework
Original publication
Association between peri‐operative red blood cell transfusion and cancer recurrence in patients undergoing major cancer surgery: an umbrella review*. Anaesthesia. Published 8 January 2025. doi:10.
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