Preoperative intravenous iron for anaemia in elective major open abdominal surgery: the PREVENTT RCT
RCT (n=487) found IV iron increased preoperative haemoglobin levels (mean difference 4.7 g/l; p < 0.0001), but had no effect compared with placebo on risk of blood transfusion or death, rates of blood transfusion, postoperative complications or hospital stay.
Source:
National Institute for Health Research
SPS commentary:
According to an expert commentary, these findings were surprising, as this seemed a sensible and plausible solution for patients with anaemia, but does highlight that an idea, no matter how apparent, should always be tested properly in the setting of a clinical trial. It suggests that guidelines should now reflect these findings, in that intravenous iron should not be a standard of care for treatment of anaemia in this population and that intravenous iron is not a one-size-fits-all treatment.