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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Aged, Blood Transfusion, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Odds Ratio, Preoperative Care, Retrospective Studies, Spinal Neoplasms, Survival Rate, Treatment Outcome.
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Does perioperative blood transfusion decrease survival after surgical treatment of spinal metastases? Context: To assess whether perioperative allogenic blood transfusions in patients undergoing surgical treatment for spinal metastases independently influence patient survival. A retrospective study including 170 consecutive patients undergoing surgical treatment for spinal metastases in 2009 and 2010 at a tertiary referral center. Variables related to postoperative survival were all included in the same multivariable logistic regression analysis with either 3- or 12-month survival as the dependent variable. The independent variables were: transfusion of allogenic red blood cells, age at surgery, gender, preoperative hemoglobin, revised Tokuhashi score and no. of instrumented levels. Perioperative allogenic blood transfusion of 1-2 units was associated with increased 12-month survival [p = 0.049, odds ratio 2.619 (confidence interval 1.004-6.831)], but not with 3-month survival. Larger transfusion volumes did not significantly influence survival.
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The results of the present study support that perioperative blood transfusion of <5 units does not decrease survival in patients operated for spinal metastases. Transfusion of 1-2 units seems to be associated with increased 12-month survival. Future studies should assess if a liberal transfusion regime can be applied to this group of patients; thereby, prioritizing early postoperative mobilization. Final Decision: no