[Preoperative intravenous iron as a strategy for blood saving in surgery for hip fracture]

To determine whether administration of intravenous iron in a patient diagnosed with hip fracture reduces the need for blood transfusion.

A retrospective observational case-control study was performed comparing a control group of 63 patients diagnosed with hip fracture with another group of 57 patients treated with parenteral iron. Demographic, clinical condition/clinical record and hematometric differences of the case-control patients were described. We analyzed the morbidity (post-surgical infection) and mortality rate. SPSS(®) was used for statistical studies.

Being statistically significant, after the administration of intravenous iron sucrose, the need of blood transfusion was reduced in the case group, as well as the quantity of concentrates required (1.37 vs 0.6). In the case group, there was a statistically significant decreasing trend in hospital mortality rate (case group: 0.8%/control group: 8.3%). It was not been proven the relation between the decrease in nosocomial infection and the administration of intravenous iron

The administration of intravenous iron sucrose in patients diagnosed with hip fracture before surgery could be effective blood saving measure in this type of trauma surgery. Furthermore, its use has been reliable without causing any side effects.