Mortality and Functional Outcomes of Liberal versus Restrictive Blood Transfusion in Elderly Patients after Hip Surgery: A Randomised Control Trial.

Study Summary

100 patients aged ≥50 years undergoing hip surgery with postoperative haemoglobin ≤10 g/dL were randomized to receive a liberal or restrictive red blood cell (RBC) transfusion strategy. The outcomes of interest were mortality within 30 days and the ability to walk 10 feet with support at 12 days and 1 month. Other outcomes included wound healing, surgical site infection, postoperative haemoglobin levels, and length of hospital stay. Outcomes were assessed on postoperative days 3 and 12 and at 1 month. Overall, the results of the study revealed no significant differences in early mortality, walking ability, surgical site infection, or wound complications between transfusion strategies, while the restrictive group had a shorter hospital stay. These findings suggested that a restrictive transfusion strategy may preserve early functional recovery and safety while reducing blood utilization in appropriately selected postoperative hip surgery patients.