To determine the prevalence of preoperative anemia in pediatric surgical patients and examine associated demographic and clinical risk factors, as well as the impact on postoperative outcomes.
Approach:
Study Design: Retrospective observational cohort study conducted at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia.
Participants: Children aged 6 months to 18 years undergoing major surgery between January 2023 and December 2023.
Data Collection: Analysis of electronic medical records to extract demographic, clinical data, and laboratory values.
Outcome Measures: Preoperative anemia prevalence, transfusion rates, postoperative complications, and length of stay.
Key Findings:
The study found that preoperative anemia prevalence in pediatric surgical patients is not well defined.
Anemia was associated with an increased likelihood of requiring perioperative blood transfusion, which correlates with adverse outcomes.
Interpretation:
The study aims to fill the gap in local data regarding preoperative anemia in pediatric surgical patients in Australasia.
Limitations:
The study is retrospective and may be subject to biases inherent in observational studies.
Missing data were not imputed, which may affect the results.
Conclusion:
This study seeks to provide valuable insights into the prevalence and impact of preoperative anemia in pediatric surgical patients in Australia.
