Pecorelli N, Guarneri G, Quattromani R, et al. - Among patients receiving major pancreatic resection, an independent risk for increased complication severity and blood transfusion is conferred by preoperative anemia.

• This is a retrospective review of 1,107 patients who underwent pancreatic resection.

• In 776 proximal resection patients, increased 90-day comprehensive complication index (CCI) and perioperative allogenic blood transfusions were evident in relation to preoperative anemia.

• In multivariate analysis, not only a 7% increase in CCI was caused by anemia but it was also identified as an independent factor linked with perioperative blood transfusion (OR 2.762).

• In 331 distal pancreatectomies, anemia showed no link with increased morbidity but only elevated the risk of perioperative blood transfusion.