We observed a significant issue many surgical patients face: preoperative anemia. This condition is common and can lead to negative outcomes during and after surgery. To tackle this, we designed a multidisciplinary clinic aimed specifically at addressing this problem, focusing on how treatments like iron can help alleviate anemia.
Our clinic focused on carefully planning and bringing together expertise from various stakeholders, including anesthesiology, surgery, and medical practices, allowing us to provide comprehensive care. We initiated the clinic in 2019 and gradually expanded it beyond just cardiac surgery patients to include a broader range of surgical cases.
Throughout our study period, we evaluated 1,188 patients, with the majority experiencing iron deficiency as the underlying cause of their anemia. Remarkably, around 87% of consultations led to recommended anemia treatments, with intravenous iron being the most common intervention used. We discovered that the implementation of our clinic resulted in earlier resolution of anemia symptoms and enhanced patient well-being following surgery.
This study highlights the potential benefits of iron treatments in managing preoperative anemia. While we can't definitively separate the effects of iron from other treatments, our findings suggest that providing targeted anemia care prior to surgery can lead to better outcomes for patients.