A new article published in Spine examines blood transfusion after posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
The researchers examined data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program pediatric database from 2012 to 2013. There were 1,691 patients included in the study. The researchers found:
1. Risk factors included:
• Male sex
• Esophageal disease
• Gastrointestinal disease
• Cardiac risk factors
• Preoperative inotrope requirement
2. Patients who underwent procedures lasting 300 minutes or more were at higher risk of needing a blood transfusion.
3. The patients with posterior arthrodesis of 13 or more vertebral segments were more likely to need a blood transfusion.
4. Blood transfusion volumes of 20 mL/kg or more were independently associated with more total complications.
5. The complication rate was 5.9 percent.
"Although transfusion in general is not associated with 30-day adverse events, a volume of 20 mL/kg was associated with higher complication rates.