How Common Is Anemia in Postoperative Surgical Patients?

• 75%-90% of certain surgical patients may be anemic postoperatively, especially after significant blood loss or inflammatory responses.
• Postoperative anemia is highly prevalent after major surgeries such as orthopedic and colorectal procedures.

What Is the Impact of Anemia on Clinical Outcomes in Postoperative Surgical Patients?

• Postoperative anemia can increase the risk of cardiac events, infections, and delayed wound healing.
• Postoperative anemia contributes to prolonging hospital stays and reducing quality of recovery.
• Patients with cardiovascular disease are more vulnerable to complications from even mild postoperative anemia.

What Are the Key Postoperative Goals?

• Restore the patient’s hemoglobin to their preoperative baseline
• Correct iron deficiency to support recovery
• Monitor and replete micronutrients as needed
• Ensure follow-up for ongoing anemia management after discharge

What Formal Guidance Is Recommended for Diagnosis and Management of Perioperative Anemia?

• WHO and international consensus statements support:
• Early identification and correction of anemia
• Routine anemia screening and iron studies postoperatively
• Use of IV iron and restrictive transfusion strategies

What Are the Recommended Postoperative Management Strategies?

• Evaluation
• Monitor hemoglobin trends postoperatively
• Assess for iron deficiency, blood loss, and inflammation
• Repeat labs as clinically indicated: Hgb, ferritin, TSAT, CRP, RET-He, B-12
• Treatment
• Iron therapy for iron deficiency (IV preferred post-op)
• IV iron is safe and effective in the post-op period for rapid repletion
• Consider Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs) in select cases
• Address any micronutrient deficiencies (B-12, folate, vitamin D)
• Minimize Transfusion
• Avoid unnecessary transfusions; follow restrictive transfusion thresholds:
• Transfusions should be symptom-based, not number-driven alone
• Consider RBC transfusion if Hgb <7g/dL unless symptomatic or high-risk (e.g., CAD)

References

1. Shander A, Corwin HL, Meier J, Auerbach M, Bisbe E, Blitz J, Erhard J, Faraoni D, Farmer SL, Frank SM, Girelli D, Hall T, Hardy JF, Hofmann A, Lee CK, Leung TW, Ozawa S, Sathar J, Spahn DR, Torres R, Warner MA, Muñoz M. Recommendations From the International Consensus Conference on Anemia Management in Surgical Patients (ICCAMS). Ann Surg. 2023 Apr 1;277(4):581-590. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000005721. Epub 2022 Sep 21. PMID: 36134567; PMCID: PMC9994846.
2. Musallam, Khaled M., et al. “Preoperative Anemia and Postoperative Outcomes in Non-Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.” The Lancet, vol. 378, no. 9800, 2011, pp. 1396–1407. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61381-0
3. Spahn, Donat R., et al. “Management of Anaemia and Iron Deficiency in Perioperative Settings: A Consensus Statement from the International Consensus Conference on Anaemia Management in Surgical Patients.” Anaesthesia, vol. 72, no. 2, 2017, pp. 233–247. https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.13773
4. Baron, David M., et al. “Preoperative Anaemia Is Associated with Poor Clinical Outcome in Non-Cardiac Surgery Patients.” British Journal of Anaesthesia, vol. 113, no. 3, 2014, pp. 416–423. https://doi.org/10.1093/bja/aeu098
5. Muñoz, Manuel, et al. “International Consensus Statement on the Peri‐Operative Management of Anaemia and Iron Deficiency.” Anaesthesia, vol. 72, no. 2, 2017, pp. 233–247. https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.13773
6. American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Perioperative Blood Management. “Practice Guidelines for Perioperative Blood Management: An Updated Report.” Anesthesiology, vol. 122, no. 2, 2015, pp. 241–275. https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000000463