# Introduction

ccording to the WHO criteria (World Health Organization) satisfactory hemoglobin levels are ? 120 g / l for women and ? 130 g / l for men. Severe anemia is defined as hemoglobin ? 100 g / l (1).In the overall population, prevalence of anemia increases with age. People older than 65 years are more likely to be anemic (1,2).In adult surgical patients, the incidence of preoperative anemia varies from 5 to 75%, depending on the age and gender of patients, type of surgery and the criteria for determining anemia. Numerous studies have shown that more than 20% of patients admitted for planned surgery are anemic (2).According to a large national study in the United States (U.S.), 35% of patients who were subjected to planned orthopedic surgery had preoperative hemoglobin less than 130 g / l. Most of the patients were women and one-third had iron deficiency (2, 3, 4).

During a large retrospective study investigated in 1958 for Jehovah's Witnesses (religious group that does not want to accept someone else's blood transfusion for the purposes of treatment) undergoing non-cardiac surgery, it was noted that the value of preoperative hemoglobin ? 100 g / l is associated with a significant increase in perioperative mortality. More significantly, perioperative mortality is increased in cardiovascular patients because these patients are less able to tolerate anemia (5). In his research, Rashig has shown thatthe preoperative hemoglobin level ? 130 g / l and hematocrit ? 30% reduce the use of perioperative transfusion of allogeneic blood for more than 90% (6). Similar results were obtained by Lawrence. In his studies he showed that high preoperative hemoglobin levels significantly improve the postoperative recovery of patients (7).After surgery and trauma inflammatory cytokines that reduce ironrelease from the gastrointestinal tract are secreted, reducing sequestration of iron in macrophages, decreasing production of erythropoietin in the kidney and giving rise to anemia.

Network for Advancement of Transfusion Alternatives (NATA) provides recommendations for detection, evaluation and treatment of preoperative anemia. These recommendations were developed by experts from several fields who deal with blood transfusion for planned surgical procedures in orthopedic surgery, expected blood loss, and the need for allogeneic blood transfusion (11). Application of substances that stimulate hematopoiesis in patients undergoing major surgical procedures, patients with chronic renal failure, patients with anemia due to malignancy, and patients undergoing chemotherapy is fully justified. In clinical practice, recombinant human erythropoietin rHuEPOis being used more often (16, 17). Use of erythropoietin andcompensation of iron deficiency substantially correct preoperative anemia, reduce allogeneic blood transfusion and, indirectly, reduce perioperative morbidity and mortality, and therefore the total cost of treatment of patients (17).

Today, allogeneic blood transfusion is a significantly safer method, but its implementation is still associated with the emergence of numerous complications such as significant increase in perioperative morbidity and mortality, number of days spent in the hospital and the total cost of treating patients. To avoid these complications, in recent decades, need for timely and appropriate diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of preoperative anemia is crucial.

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			© 2014 Global Journals Inc. (US)
		
		
			

				


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		Allogeneic blood transfusion reduction by risk-based protocol in joint arthroplasy
		
			SRashig
		
		
			KJamieson-Lega
		
		
			CKomarinski
		
		
			SNahirniak
		
		
			LZinyk
		
		
			BFinigfan
		
	
	
		Canadian Anaesthesiologists Society
		
			57
			
			2010
		
	




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		Detection, evaluation and management of preoperative anemia in the elective orthopaedic surgical patient: NATA guidelines
		
			LTGoodnough
		
		
			AManiatis
		
		
			PEarnshow
		
		
			GBenoni
		
		
			PBeris
		
		
			EBisbe
		
	
	
		Br J Anaesth
		
			102
			1
			
			2011
		
	




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		Anemia of chronic disease
		
			GWeiss
		
		
			LTGoodnough
		
	
	
		N Engl J Med
		
			352
			
			2005
		
	




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		Iron supplementation for anemia after hip fracture surgery: randomized trial of 300 patients
		
			MJParker
		
	
	
		J Bone Joint Surg Am
		
			92
			
			2010
		
	




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		Grades of recommendation for antithrombotic agents: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines
		
			GHGuayatt
		
		
			DJCook
		
		
			RJaeschke
		
		
			SGPanker
		
		
			HJSchünemann
		
	
	
		Chest
		
			133
			
			2008