Impact of preoperative anaemia on cancer patients’ outcomes after total hysterectomy

Abstract

Introduction According to the WHO the prevalence of anaemia is approximately 30% for non-pregnant women.[1] Anaemia should be screened and treated actively, because it is related with higher rates of postoperative complications and mortality.[2] Currently discussions concerning development of algorithms for treating anaemia and reducing postoperative complications and mortality rates are going worldwide.[3] Aim To determine the impact of preoperative anaemia on outcomes of patients with cancer diagnosis who underwent total hysterectomy. Objectives 1) To assess the prevalence of preoperative anaemia among the cancer patients before total hysterectomy. 2) To determine the difference in outcomes between the anaemic and control group cancer patients after total hysterectomy. 3) To determine the difference in need of intraoperative blood transfusion between the anaemic and control group cancer patients after total hysterectomy. Methods A retrospective case-control study included patients who had gynecological cancer treated by total hysterectomy at Clinic of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. According to the level of preoperative haemoglobin patients were assigned to the 2 groups: 1) anaemic (Hb < 120 g/l); 2) control (Hb > = 120 g/l). Groups were compared with respect to: age, localization of cancer, histopathologic grades of cancer, FIGO classification, type of surgery, preoperative haemoglobin, duration of hospital stay (days), the rate of postoperative complications and mortality, anaemia treatment data. 73 patients were selected. SPSS 21.0 parametric and non-parametric statistical tools were used for statistical analysis where appropriate and p < 0.05 regarded as statistically significant. Results Mean age of patients was 60 ± 15 years an anaemic group and 59 ± 12 in control group (p > 0.05). Localization of cancer was: ovary 14 (19.4%); body of uterus 9 (12.5%); cervix of uter[...].