Perioperative Blood Transfusion Increases Risk of Surgical Site Infection Following Bariatric Surgery

Transfusion-associated immunomodulation (TRIM) hypothesizes that with the administration of blood transfusions, the host's immune surveillance mechanism is downregulated, and therefore more predisposed to infection [1]. The theory is that white blood cells (WBCs) within the donated blood induce an immunosuppressive effect in the recipient. However, WBCs have not been the sole identified cause of this potential effect [2]. This is significant for patients undergoing surgery, where their immune system is already suppressed, and they experience a complication that requires a blood transfusion.
Source: Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: Original articles Source Type: research