Skip to main content

Table 1 Randomized controlled trials of intravenous (i.v.) iron in major surgery

From: Iron Metabolism: An Emerging Therapeutic Target in Critical Illness

Study, year [ref], number (n) of patients

Population

Intervention

Outcomes

Kim, 2017 (FAIRY trial) [48]

n = 454

Anemia post-radical gastrectomy

500–1000 mg i.v. FCM

Significantly more Hb responders No significant differences in QoL

Johansson, 2015 (PROTECT trial) [49]

n = 60

Non-anemic patients undergoing cardiac surgery

100 mg i.v. iron isomaltoside

More non-anemic patients in i.v. iron group

Higher Hb 1 month postoperative in i.v. iron group

Bernabeu-Wittel, 2016 [50]

n = 306

Hip fracture surgery

1 g i.v. FCM+  40,000 IU s.c. EPO

Higher Hb at discharge and 60-days post-discharge

No significant differences in ABT, mortality, HRQoL, adverse events.

Froessler, 2016 [51]

n = 72

Abdominal surgery with IDA

500–1000 mg i.v. FCM

Reduced ABT

Improved preoperative Hb

Improved postoperative Hb

Reduced LOS

Intravenous iron for Treatment of Anemia before Cardiac Surgery (ITACS; ClincialTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02632760)

Anemic patients before elective cardiac surgery

1 g i.v. FCM (or similar product)

Primary outcome: Number of days alive and out of hospital from surgery to 30 days post-surgery

Preoperative Intravenous Iron to Treat Anemia in Major Surgery (PREVENTT; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01692418)

Anemic patients before major open abdominal surgery

1 g i.v. FCM

Primary outcome: ABT requirement

Intravenous Iron, Functional Recovery and Delirium in Patients with Hip Fracture (FEDEREF; EudraCT: 2014–001923-53)

Hip fracture patients

200 mg iron sucrose on days 1, 3 and 5 from admission

Primary outcome: Functional variables, including ability to perform activities of daily living and walking.

Cognitive variables, including cognitive status and incidence of delirium ABT requirement

  1. ABT allogeneic blood transfusion, EPO erythropoietin, FCM ferric carboxymaltose, Hb hemoglobin, HRQoL health-related quality of life, IDA iron-deficiency anemia, LOS length of stay, QoL quality of life, s.c. subcutaneous