Can Transfusions Be Eliminated in Major Abdominal Surgery? Analysis of a Five-Year Experience of Blood Conservation in Patients Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has historically required perioperative blood transfusion in 40 to 60 per cent of cases. Growing data suggest that transfusions may be deleterious in the surgical patient. We recently initiated a minimal transfusion approach to PD consisting of limited postoperative blood draws, early iron supplementation, changes in surgical technique, and elimination of hemoglobin transfusion triggers.