The Effect of Erythropoietin on Allogeneic Blood Requirement in Patients Undergoing Elective Liver Resection: A Model Simulation

We investigated whether recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) administration would reduce red blood cell (RBC) transfusion requirements in patients undergoing elective liver resection. We retrospectively investigated 200 patients undergoing elective liver resection. Factors likely to predict perioperative RBC transfusion were studied using a logistic regression analysis. A mathematical model was used to simulate RBC transfusion requirements if (a) transfusion thresholds had been predefined at a hemoglobin concentration of 7–8 g/dL, (b) preoperative hemoglobin concentrations had been increased to 15 g/dL by rHuEPO administration in patients with preoperative hemoglobin concentration in the range 10–13 g/dL, and (c) both interventions had been used. A cost/benefit evaluation of rHuEPO administration formed part of this simulation. RBC transfusion was correlated with major and median liver resection, total liver vascular exclusion, and a combined nonhepatic abdominal surgery but was not correlated with a preoperative hemoglobin concentration in the range 10–13 g/dL. Adherence to a small transfusion threshold or rHuEPO administration alone would have resulted in a slight reduction in transfusion requirements and transfusion rates for the whole population. However, the two interventions in combination would have significantly reduced both variables. One-hundred-eighteen patients undergoing median and major liver resection received 92% of RBC transfused. Sixty-six of these 118 patients had preoperative hemoglobin concentrations in the range 10–13 g/dL and could have received rHuEPO before surgery. rHuEPO alone would have avoided the transfusion of 63 RBC packs of 203 in this subgroup and 12 transfused patients of 31 (P = 0.02). rHuEPO administration to these 66 patients would have cost 186,000 Euro. The 63 RBC saved would have cost 10,710 Euro.