Allogenic blood transfusions
represent one of the risk factors that have proved to enhance the incidence of
post-operative morbidity and in particular the incidence of infective
complications.
As a matter of fact, allogeneic blood transfusions may create
conditions leading to an immune down-regulation, clinical evidence known in the literature as allogenic blood transfusion–associated immuno modulation (TRIM).
Its impact on post-operative course is not negligible considering that
peri-operative transfusion rate in large cohorts of patients submitted to
colorectal surgery ranges from 25,7% to 54,9%.
Leukocyte-depleted blood transfusions (LDBT) have been introduced in many countries over the last yearsto reduce negative side effects of blood transfusions. On the other hand,
several studies founded contrasting results regarding the real effects of LDBT
on post-operative morbidity.