Impact of Intraoperative Blood Transfusions on Survival Rates in Ovarian Cancer Patients Steven Benyahia, BA; Yi Luoz, PhD; Emily Coughlin, MPH; Robert Wenham, MD, Jeffery Huang, MD USF Morsani College of Medicine, Moffit Cancer Center

 

Background
• Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of gynecologic cancer-
related mortality globally.
• High mortality is often due to late diagnosis, with only a
31% survival rate for stage IV patients
• Surgical debulking followed by chemotherapy is the
standard treatment approach
• This study investigates the impact of operative and
perioperative factors, particularly blood transfusions and
hospital stay length, on survival outcomes in ovarian
cancer patients

Methods

• Retrospective study of 314 ovarian cancer patients
undergoing surgery between 2010 and 2018 at Moffitt
Cancer Center.
• Collected data: demographics, tumor characteristics,
intraoperative factors (e.g., estimated blood loss,
transfusions), and postoperative measures (e.g.,
readmissions, length of stay).
• Statistical analyses included log-rank, chi-square, and
Mann-Whitney U tests to evaluate survival outcomes;
significance was set at p<0.05.

Results

• Hospital stays >3 days correlated with decreased survival
(p=0.015).
• Blood transfusions were associated with significantly lower
survival (42.0 months vs. 53.1 months, p<0.001).
• Higher mortality was linked to increased estimated blood loss
(p=0.015) and longer surgery duration (p=0.002).
• No significant survival difference by age, BMI, or smoking
history

Discussion

• Prolonged hospital stays may indicate complex surgeries
or complications, adversely affecting survival.
• Intraoperative blood transfusions potentially contribute to
immunosuppression and poorer oncological outcomes.
• Minimizing transfusions and optimizing surgical efficiency
are potential strategies for improving survival outcomes.
• Higher tumor stage remained a critical predictor of
survival, underscoring the importance of early detection
and intervention.

Conclusion

• Extended hospital stays and intraoperative blood
transfusions are associated with poorer survival outcomes
in ovarian cancer patients.
• Strategies targeting a reduction in the need for
transfusions and hospital stays could enhance survival.
• Further prospective randomized control study is
warranted to refine perioperative care in ovarian cancer.