Effects of erythropoietin administration on allogeneic blood transfusion requirements in adults undergoing surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The available evidence supports the efficacy of preoperative human erythropoietin administration in reducing transfusion requirements and the average number of transfusion units in adult surgical patients. No significant differences were observed in postoperative mortality, complication rate, adverse event rate, venous thromboembolic events (including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism), and hospital stay after preoperative administration of erythropoietin.