A new study published in Clinical Spine Surgery examines how anemia and blood transfusions affect the length of stay and readmission rates for spine surgery patients.
Study authors examined records for 1,187 patients who underwent spine surgery at Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial Hospital in 2010, 17.8 percent had transfusions. Just over 6 percent were readmitted. After reviewing the data, study authors found:
1. Blood transfusion was associated with 60 percent longer hospital stays.
2. Blood transfusions weren't significantly associated with an increased readmission rate.
3. Patients with preoperative anemia at any level were likely to have a longer length of stay.
4. Severe preoperative anemia was associated with an increased readmission rate.
5. Study authors concluded, "Our findings may help define actions to reduce length of stay and decrease rates of readmissions."