Impact of Intraoperative Blood Transfusions on Survival Rates in Ovarian Cancer Patients

IntroductionOvarian cancer remains a leading cause of gynecologic cancer-related mortality worldwide. Identifying perioperative factors that influence survival outcomes is essential for optimizing care. This study evaluates the impact of perioperative factors such as intraoperative blood transfusions and hospital length of stay (LOS) on survival rates in ovarian cancer patients undergoing surgical debulking.MethodsThis retrospective study analyzed charts of 314 patients who underwent ovarian cancer surgery at a single institution between 2010 and 2018. Patients were grouped based on survival status: "Live" or "Death". Variables included demographics, tumor size, comorbidity, anesthesia time, surgery time, estimated blood loss, transfusion, readmission, hospital stay length, and survival. Statistical analyses included log-rank tests and mean survival estimations: chi-square tests and Mann-Whitney U-test. Significance was set at P < .05.ResultsThe mean follow-up was 50.5 months (95% CI, 47.8-53.2). Prolonged LOS (>3 days) was significantly associated with reduced survival (47.4 vs 52.4 months, P = .015). Patients requiring intraoperative blood transfusions had poorer survival outcomes (42.0 months 95% CI, 36.3-47.7 vs 53.1 months 95% CI, 50.3-55.9, P < .001). The "Death" group experienced greater blood loss, longer surgical/anesthesia times, and higher intraoperative fluid requirements.ConclusionProlonged hospital stays and intraoperative blood transfusions are associated with worse survival outcomes in ovarian cancer patients undergoing surgery. These findings underscore the importance of perioperative optimization strategies, including minimizing transfusion requirements and reducing LOS through enhanced recovery protocols.