The Journal of otolaryngology
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To determine whether preoperative erythropoietin can raise the hemoglobin levels of head and neck cancer patients prior to major ablative surgery. ⋯ Erythropoietin significantly increases hemoglobin levels in patients awaiting major head and neck oncologic surgery. It can be viewed as an important adjunct to other well-established blood conservation techniques aimed at reducing perioperative transfusion rates.