Pre-Operative Oral Iron Supplementation Reduces Blood Transfusion in Colorectal Surgery – A Prospective, Randomised, Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION Allogeneic blood transfusion confers a risk to the recipient. Recent trials in colorectal surgery have shown that the most significant factors predicting blood transfusion are pre-operative haemoglobin, operative blood loss and presence of a transfusion protocol. We report a randomised, controlled trial of oral ferrous sulphate 200 mg TDS for 2 weeks’ pre-operatively versus no iron therapy . PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer were recruited from out-patient clinic and haematological parameters assessed. Randomisation was co-ordinated via a telephone randomisation centre. RESULTS Of the 49 patients recruited, 45 underwent colorectal resection. There were no differences between those patients not receiving iron ( n = 23) and the iron-supplemented group ( n = 22) for haemoglobin at recruitment, operative blood loss, operation duration or length of hospital stay. At admission to hospital, the iron-supplemented group had a higher haemoglobin than the non-iron treated group (mean haemoglobin concentration 13.1 g/dl [range, 9.6–17 g/dl] versus 11.8 g/dl [range, 7.8–14.7 g/dl]; P = 0.040; 95% CI 0.26–0.97) and were less likely to require operative blood transfusion (mean 0 U [range, 0–4 U] versus 2 U [range, 0–11 U] transfused; P = 0.031; 95% CI 0.13–2.59). This represented a cost reduction of 66% (47 U of blood = £4700 versus oral FeSO 4 at £30 + 15 U blood at £1500). At admission, ferritin in the iron-treated group had risen significantly from 40 µ g/l (range, 15–222 µ g/l) to 73 µ g/l (range, 27–386 µ g/l; P = 0.0036; 95% CI 46.53–10.57). CONCLUSIONS Oral ferrous sulphate given pre-operatively in patients undergoing colorectal surgery offers a simple, inexpensive method of reducing blood transfusions.