Iron infusion before bowel surgery reduces the need for blood transfusion

Change in clinical practice would have clear benefits for patients undergoing major bowel surgery, according to analysis conducted by researchers from UCL and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

The study, published in The British Journal of Surgery, provides evidence that giving iron intravenously before colorectal surgery improves outcomes for patients, reducing the need for blood transfusion by 33%.

Anaemia is a common problem in patients undergoing bowel surgery due to bleeding from the gut and blood loss during the operation. Anaemia is also associated with feeling tired and unwell, a slower recovery and other complications after surgery.

In this study, a meta-analysis of five randomised controlled trials was conducted by researchers from UCL, focusing on a subset of patients from those trials who had undergone bowel surgery. In these trials, patients were split into two groups, a control group and a group who received iron intravenously prior to surgery.

The analysis showed that patients who had received iron infusion were 33% less likely to require a blood transfusion during or after surgery.

As well as reducing the risk for patients, fewer blood transfusions would be good news at a time when there are blood supply shortages in the UK.

Reference: Iron infusion before bowel surgery reduces need for blood transfusion; BJS (British Journal of Surgery), DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znad320