[Perioperative blood transfusion and prognosis in colorectal cancer. Analysis of a series].

The relationship between survival after surgical resection of colorectal carcinoma, and perioperative blood transfusion was studied retrospectively. "Curative" surgery was performed in 164 cases of colorectal cancer--stages B and C--, 72 of them received red-cell concentrates perioperatively. Multiple regression analysis did not show any deleterious effect of blood transfusion on the survival of the surgically treated patients (P = 0.941). The volume of the blood derivative received neither seems to influence their outlook. As it was expected a higher rate of transfusion occurred among rectal cancer patients. Mechanisms and factors involved in this controverted issue are discussed and literature is widely reviewed.