There was no difference in transfusion rate or 30 day mortality between the two study arms, nor any reduction of transfusion rate out to 6 months post op. Subgroup analysis of patients with iron deficiency (ferritin < 100ng/ml and transferrin saturation < 20%) did not alter the findings.
Interestingly, readmissions to hospital in the 8 weeks following surgery were significantly lower in the group receiving IV iron (13% vs 22%), with the commonest reasons for readmission listed as general post-operative complications, (11% vs 15%), general infections (3 vs 3%) and wound infections (<1% vs 3%).
These findings argue against routine pre-operative administration of IV iron for anaemia for the prevention of transfusion, but raise the question of a potential benefit to recovery. Any benefit to recovery would likely be the same if IV iron is administered intra- or post-operatively, as opposed to pre-operatively, with the added benefit of reduced cost.