XXXX in colorectal surgery.

@entity1 @entity697 @entity14
AIMS: Blood transfusions are often given to surgical @entity1 . This study was designed to assess whether @entity697 ( @entity697 ) reduces exposure to allogeneic blood, affects clinical outcome and hospital stay, and is feasible in colorectal surgery. METHODS: All ASA 1 and 11 @entity1 undergoing colectomies performed between 1997 and 1999 were identified retrospectively from our @entity14 database to ascertain our current peri and postoperative transfusion practice. Twenty-six selected @entity1 subsequently underwent @entity697 during colectomy surgery. The number of @entity1 and units transfused were identified. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-three of 317 (39%) @entity1 identified from our @entity14 database were transfused a total of 328 units (median 2, range 1-7). Of the 26 @entity1 undergoing @entity697 , 4 (15%) were transfused a total of 13 units (median 3, range 2-5). The reduction in number of @entity1 transfused was statistically significant (P=0.017). @entity697 increased anaesthetic time by a median of 19 min. There were no complications associated with @entity697 and the median hospital stay was 9 days (range 6-13). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study of selected @entity1 , @entity697 is a feasible and effective method of reducing allogeneic blood exposure in major colorectal surgery. A prospective randomised controlled trial is now urgently required.
