Perioperative Blood Transfusion and Infectious Complications Among Pediatric Patients with Cancer

<b>Background:</b> Perioperative blood transfusion has been identified as a risk factor for postoperative infectious complications in adult patients with cancer. This study aimed to determine whether this association also exists in pediatric patients with cancer. <b>Methods:</b> A retrospective analysis was performed using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIP-P) database. Pediatric patients with an active cancer diagnosis at the time of surgical intervention from 2015 to 2019 were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson chi-square and Fisher's exact tests as well as multiple logistic regression. <b>Result:</b> In total, 14,973 pediatric patients who underwent a surgical procedure and had an active cancer diagnosis at the time of operation were identified. Of these, 2602 patients (17.4%) received a perioperative blood transfusion (PBT). Patients who received a PBT experienced higher rates of postoperative infectious complications, including surgical-site infection (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), pneumonia (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), urinary tract infection (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), <i>C. difficile</i> infection (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), central-line-associated bloodstream infection (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), and sepsis (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Patients who received a PBT also had increased 30-day mortality compared with those who did not receive a PBT (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, PBT remained an independent risk factor for postoperative infectious complications (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.61-2.32) and death (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.23-2.71). <b>Conclusions:</b> Pediatric patients with cancer who undergo surgery and receive a blood transfusion in the perioperative period have increased 30-day mortality and are at increased risk for postoperative infectious complications. Considering that these patients are often immunosuppressed at baseline, infections can be particularly devastating in this population. As such, it is important to carefully consider the risks and benefits of PBT prior to transfusion.