In colorectal cancer, administering intravenous iron before surgically removing the tumor improves patient outcomes.
- People who have had bowel surgery are often affected by anemia due to bleeding and blood loss during the operation.
- Intravenous iron administration, over 15 to 30 minutes, reduces the need for blood transfusion by 33%.
- This is good news for all countries currently experiencing a blood shortage.
Anemia affects 60 to 80% of people with colorectal cancer. This problem is also common in adults undergoing bowel surgery due to bleeding and blood loss during the operation. This abnormal drop in hemoglobin levels in the blood is associated with feeling tired and unwell, slower recovery, and other complications after surgery. In case of anemia, a blood transfusion is necessary. However, there is concern that cancer patients may have higher rates of complications and cancer recurrence if they benefit.
Operation: administering iron reduces the need for blood transfusion by 33%
Until now, intravenous iron administration, over 15 to 30 minutes, has been used sparingly. However, this infusion can reduce the need for blood transfusions, according to British scientists. In a study, published in the journal British Journal of Surgery, researchers focused on a subset of patients who underwent colorectal surgery. The participants were divided into two groups: some were given iron intravenously before the operation and others received nothing.
The authors found that people who had an iron infusion were 33% less likely to require a blood transfusion during or after surgery. This is good news for all countries currently experiencing a shortage of blood bags.
“Improving outcomes for the second leading cause of cancer mortality” using iron infusion
“The data from this study has the potential to improve outcomes for the second leading cause of cancer death. In the past, surgeons were uncertain whether the benefits of iron infusion could be realized within the short time frame of cancer care and, therefore, the use of this treatment was limited. Our results show that better results can be obtained if iron infusion is administered between cancer diagnosis and surgery.” said Professor Neil Smartcolorectal surgeon and co-author of the research.
