[Treatment of preoperative anemia in major orthopedic surgery]

Abstract

The prevalence of preoperative anemia in major orthopedic surgery is high and is the main predictive factor for allogeneic blood transfusion. The scheduling of a preoperative visit with sufficient notice (at least 3 weeks before surgery), with a blood count test and a basic iron metabolism study, enables us to treat the anemia and/or improve preoperative hemoglobin levels, thereby reducing the need for transfusion and the risks associated with transfusions. Intravenous iron and/or erythropoietin are treatments for optimizing preoperative anemia, with good levels of scientific evidence.

Keywords: Anemia preoperatoria; Cirugía ortopédica; Eritropoyetina; Erythropoietin; Hierro intravenoso; Intravenous iron; Orthopedic surgery; Perioperative anemia; Transfusion; Transfusión.