Correlation between perioperative blood transfusion and prognosis of patients subjected to surgery for stage I lung cancer.

Background: It has been reported, but not proven, that perioperative blood transfusions have a detrimental effect on the survival of patients undergoing surgery for lung cancer.

Study Design: and methods: A prospective study was carried out on the patients undergoing lobectomy for stage I lung cancer at our department from 1995 to 2000. The criteria for exclusion included previous cases of malignancy, autoimmune diseases, and any other relevant comorbidity.