# Effects of perioperative massive transfusion on postoperative outcomes of children undergoing brain tumor removal: a retrospective cohort study

## TL;DR

This study finds that massive blood transfusions during brain tumor surgery in children are linked to higher short-term mortality and complications.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific risks of massive transfusion in pediatric brain tumor surgery, including mortality and ICU duration.

## Key findings

- Massive transfusion increases 30-day mortality risk in children undergoing brain tumor surgery.
- Patients receiving massive transfusion had higher rates of postoperative intracranial hypertension and longer ICU stays.
- Transfusion was associated with extended mechanical ventilation duration.

## Abstract

To examine the influence of massive perioperative transfusion on both short-term and long-term outcomes in children undergoing brain tumor resection.

This retrospective cohort study analyzed pediatric patients who underwent brain tumor surgeries at the Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, between October 2014 and March 2022. Massive transfusion was characterized as the transfusion of red blood cells equivalent to or exceeding the estimated preoperative blood volume within 48 h after surgery. To evaluate the relationship between massive transfusion and patient outcomes, logistic regression models were utilized. Survival curves were constructed to compare the long-term outcomes of patients who received massive transfusion with those who did not. The primary outcomes assessed were 30-day all-cause mortality (short-term outcomes) and 1-year survival rates (short-term outcomes).

Among the 306 patients included in the analysis, 78 were categorized as part of the massive transfusion group, while 228 were in the non-massive transfusion group. Multivariable regression analysis indicated that perioperative massive transfusion was significantly linked to an increased risk of 30-day mortality (odds ratio (OR): 0.137, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.036–0.528], p = 0.004). Additionally, patients in the massive transfusion group exhibited higher incidences of postoperative intracranial hypertension (OR: 4.788, 95% CI [1.547–14.824], p = 0.007), extended mechanical ventilation duration (OR: 0.247, 95% CI [58.739–147.895], p < 0.001), and prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stays (ß = 0.184, 95% CI [3.874–15.077], p = 0.001).

Massive transfusion has a pronounced impact on short-term outcomes, particularly increasing perioperative mortality and complication risks in children undergoing brain tumor surgery. Careful consideration of the risks and benefits of transfusion is crucial in managing these cases.