Effect of preoperative intravenous iron therapy on transfusion requirements and morbidity in adult patients undergoing open heart surgery

İbrahim Demir; Özlem Turhan; Türkan Tansel; Ufuk Alpagut; Onur Selçuk Göksel

doi:10.17944/interdiscip.1798695

Effect of preoperative intravenous iron therapy on transfusion requirements and morbidity in adult patients undergoing open heart surgery

Abstract

Objective: This study compared postoperative transfusion requirements, morbidity and mortality between adult cardiac surgery patients with preoperative anemia treated with intravenous ferric carboxymaltose and non-anemic patients. Methods: This was a prospective study including 95 patients undergoing elective open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between April 2019 and April 2022. Twenty-five (26.3%) patients had preoperative iron deficiency anemia and received intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (1000 mg, with an additional 500 mg if indicated preoperatively based on BMI). Seventy patients were non-anemic controls. Transfusion criteria were based on hemoglobin < 7–8 g/dL, hemodynamic instability, or clinical judgment. Statistical analyses included Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U, Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Anemic patients received significantly more perioperative erythrocyte suspension (ES) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) compared to non-anemic patients (p < 0.05). Postoperatively, there were no significant differences in ES/FFP use, ICU stay, intubation time, or hospital stay between groups (p > 0.05). The mean operation time was shorter in the anemic treated group, partly reflecting a lower CABG rate. Baseline demographics were similar across groups (mean age 61.6 ± 11.0 vs 60.2 ± 15.9 years). Conclusion: Preoperative intravenous iron therapy in anemic patients did not reduce postoperative transfusion needs but allowed outcomes comparable to non-anemic patients. Intravenous (IV) iron therapy was safe, and patients experienced similar ICU and hospital courses. Larger randomized controlled trials are required to confirm efficacy.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None

Ethical Statement

Ethical Approval has been declared as a supplementary file

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cardiovascular Surgery

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

İbrahim Demir ^*
0000-0003-3813-922X
Türkiye

Özlem Turhan
0000-0003-2127-8135
Türkiye

Türkan Tansel
0000-0003-3069-777X
Türkiye

Ufuk Alpagut
0000-0001-6052-2773
Türkiye

Onur Selçuk Göksel
0000-0001-8103-3709
Türkiye

Publication Date

April 16, 2026

Submission Date

October 7, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 19, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 17 Number: 57

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17944/interdiscip.1798695

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA74JW72FJ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Demir, İ., Turhan, Ö., Tansel, T., Alpagut, U., & Göksel, O. S. (2026). Effect of preoperative intravenous iron therapy on transfusion requirements and morbidity in adult patients undergoing open heart surgery. Interdisciplinary Medical Journal, 17(57), 59-65. https://doi.org/10.17944/interdiscip.1798695

AMA

1.Demir İ, Turhan Ö, Tansel T, Alpagut U, Göksel OS. Effect of preoperative intravenous iron therapy on transfusion requirements and morbidity in adult patients undergoing open heart surgery. Interdiscip Med J. 2026;17(57):59-65. doi:10.17944/interdiscip.1798695

Chicago

Demir, İbrahim, Özlem Turhan, Türkan Tansel, Ufuk Alpagut, and Onur Selçuk Göksel. 2026. “Effect of Preoperative Intravenous Iron Therapy on Transfusion Requirements and Morbidity in Adult Patients Undergoing Open Heart Surgery”. Interdisciplinary Medical Journal 17 (57): 59-65. https://doi.org/10.17944/interdiscip.1798695.

EndNote

Demir İ, Turhan Ö, Tansel T, Alpagut U, Göksel OS (April 1, 2026) Effect of preoperative intravenous iron therapy on transfusion requirements and morbidity in adult patients undergoing open heart surgery. Interdisciplinary Medical Journal 17 57 59–65.

IEEE

[1]İ. Demir, Ö. Turhan, T. Tansel, U. Alpagut, and O. S. Göksel, “Effect of preoperative intravenous iron therapy on transfusion requirements and morbidity in adult patients undergoing open heart surgery”, Interdiscip Med J, vol. 17, no. 57, pp. 59–65, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.17944/interdiscip.1798695.

ISNAD

Demir, İbrahim - Turhan, Özlem - Tansel, Türkan - Alpagut, Ufuk - Göksel, Onur Selçuk. “Effect of Preoperative Intravenous Iron Therapy on Transfusion Requirements and Morbidity in Adult Patients Undergoing Open Heart Surgery”. Interdisciplinary Medical Journal 17/57 (April 1, 2026): 59-65. https://doi.org/10.17944/interdiscip.1798695.

JAMA

1.Demir İ, Turhan Ö, Tansel T, Alpagut U, Göksel OS. Effect of preoperative intravenous iron therapy on transfusion requirements and morbidity in adult patients undergoing open heart surgery. Interdiscip Med J. 2026;17:59–65.

MLA

Demir, İbrahim, et al. “Effect of Preoperative Intravenous Iron Therapy on Transfusion Requirements and Morbidity in Adult Patients Undergoing Open Heart Surgery”. Interdisciplinary Medical Journal, vol. 17, no. 57, Apr. 2026, pp. 59-65, doi:10.17944/interdiscip.1798695.

Vancouver

1.İbrahim Demir, Özlem Turhan, Türkan Tansel, Ufuk Alpagut, Onur Selçuk Göksel. Effect of preoperative intravenous iron therapy on transfusion requirements and morbidity in adult patients undergoing open heart surgery. Interdiscip Med J. 2026 Apr. 1;17(57):59-65. doi:10.17944/interdiscip.1798695