Ugeskrift for laeger
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Aug 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial[Leukocyte filtration in elective colorectal surgery. Reduced transfusion associated immunosuppression after bedside procedures].
The objective of the study was to investigate certain immune parameters in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery and receiving either whole blood transfusion or leucocyte-filtrated blood. Sixty consecutive patients were randomly allocated to receive either whole blood transfusion or leucocyte-filtrated blood leucocyte when transfusion was indicated. ⋯ Furthermore transfusion with whole blood was accompanied by a significant increase in postoperative infectious complications (p < 0.01). Patients transfused with leucocyte-filtrated blood had only minor and passing changes in the immune parameters and developed no infectious complications, indicating that effective leucocyte filtration abolishes transfusion-associated immunosuppression.