Effect of Preoperative Intravenous Iron for Anemic Patients on Outcomes after Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Iron-deficiency anemia is a global health problem and a common medical condition seen in everyday clinical practice and especially with patients going through cardiac surgery. The most rapid and effective method of correcting anemia is by transfusion of red blood cells. However, blood transfusion itself is not without risk. Treatment of perioperative anemia using iron replacement therapy is, in contrast to blood transfusion, a safe, cheap, and relatively convenient therapy This study aims to perform a systematic review regarding the effect of preoperative intravenous iron therapy on the need for perioperative blood transfusion and the incidence of major morbidity in anemic patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and articles were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, COCHRANE Database of systematic reviews (CDSR), Scopus, and Web of Science. Quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool