Impact of Blood Transfusions on Recurrence and Survival After Rectal Cancer Surgery

Purpose  This study was designed to determine whether type or number of blood units transfused affected short-term and long-term outcome in patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer. The number of perioperative blood units is associated with postoperative mortality and overall survival by some authors. In addition, allogenic perioperative blood transfusion has been postulated to produce host immunosuppression and has been reported to result in adverse outcome in patients with colorectal cancer. Autologous blood transfusion might improve results compared with allogenic transfusion.