Restrictive transfusion in radical cystectomy is safe

Perioperative blood transfusion (PBT) is commonplace in radical cystectomy (RC) and has been linked to poorer oncologic outcomes. Limiting PBT in this largely elderly and comorbid population has not been studied. Herein, we first investigate the safety of a restrictive transfusion protocol (RTP) in patients undergoing RC for urothelial carcinoma and then compare oncologic outcomes between patients who did and did not receive PBT.

Outcomes for 173 consecutive patients meeting inclusion criteria undergoing RC for urothelial carcinoma from April 2010 to June 2014 by a single surgeon employing RTP were analyzed from an institutional review board-approved, prospectively collected database. Pairwise matching to a cohort undergoing RC during an earlier era of more liberal PBT was performed, and 90-day outcomes were compared.

Median follow-up for the RTP cohort was 3.1 years (range: 0-5.1y). Median age was 70 years (range: 38-93y). Forty-six patients (26.6%) received PBT. Eighty-seven matched pairs were generated from RTP cohort and liberal era where PBT rate was 94%. There were no differences in 90-day complication rates, mortality, or readmission rates (P>0.05). In the RTP cohort, patients who underwent PBT had higher estimated blood loss (500 vs. 350, P = 0.001), lower baseline hematocrit (28.9 vs. 33.3, P = 0.005), and similar operative time (5.8 vs. 5.3h, P = 0.01) and length of stay (5.5 vs. 5, P = 0.07). At discharge and 3-week follow-up, there was no difference in hematocrit (P>0.05). In the no-PBT group, 90-day (65.6% vs. 86.7%, P = 0.007) and high-grade (15.6% vs. 34.8%, P = 0.003) complication rates were lower. On multivariable analysis, predictors of PBT were age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06, 95% CI [1.01-1.11]), Charlson comorbidity index≥2 (OR = 2.68, CI [1.09-7.04]), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (OR = 3.74, CI [1.46-10.19]),≥pT3 (OR = 5.5, CI [2.33-13.73]), baseline hematocrit (OR = 0.95, CI [0.87-1.00]), and estimated blood loss (OR = 1.001, CI [1-1.003]). PBT was associated with lower recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio = 2.16; CI [1.13-41.12]; P = 0.02) and overall survival (hazard ratio =2.25; CI [1.25-4.88]; P = 0.01).

The use of RTP in RC is safe. PBT was associated with poorer recurrence-free survival and overall survival independent of clinicopathologic characteristics.