Blood management challenges in orthopedic oncology

Because anemia is associated with reduced long-term survival, and because allogeneic transfusion is linked to increased recurrence of disease and reduced rates of long-term survival, alternative options for managing anemia in the orthopedic oncologic patient have been sought. Managing the anemia of cancer is particularly challenging given the many obstacles to employing conventional blood management options. One potential means of treating perioperative anemia in orthopedic oncologic patients involves the use of Epoetin alfa. The clinical utility of Epoetin alfa in this setting, however, must be determined in controlled trials.