RecruitingACTRN12621001517864

POST-operative Variations in anaemia treatmenT and Transfusions (POSTVenTT)

POST-operative Variations in anaemia treatmenT and Transfusions (POSTVenTT): a prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study of anaemia after major abdominal surgery

Sponsor

South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS)

Enrollment

2,000 participants

Start Date

Jul 1, 2021

Study Type

Observational

Conditions

Perioperative anaemia following major abdominal surgery

Summary

Anaemia affects nearly a quarter of the world and is common in surgical patients. A third of patients present with preoperative anaemia and three quarters of patients are discharged from hospital with anaemia. The World Health Organisation defines anaemia as an insufficient circulating red cell mass, with a haemoglobin (Hb) concentration of < 130 g/L for men and < 120 g/L for women. Perioperative anaemia is associated with delayed patient recovery and increased postoperative complications, leading to increased post-operative morbidity and mortality. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the in the use of intravenous iron therapy for preoperative anaemia in line with major international guidelines. This is common practice in Australia and New Zealand. However, the recent PREVENTT study has questioned the value of preoperative iron transfusion in anaemic patients. Management of anaemia in the perioperative setting is variable and compliance to recommended practices such as measurement of haemoglobin levels, use of tranexamic acid, and avoidance of oral iron remains unknown. The POSTVenTT (POST-operative Variations in anaemia treatmenT and Transfusions) audit aims to determine the variability in adherence to anaemia management guidelines in the perioperative setting and to assess its impact on clinical outcomes following major abdominal surgery.

Eligibility

Sex: Both males and femalesMin Age: 18 Yearss

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

Anaemia — having too few red blood cells — is extremely common in patients before and after major abdominal surgery, and it can significantly slow recovery and increase the risk of complications. Despite clear international guidelines about how to manage perioperative anaemia, the way it is actually handled in hospitals varies widely. The POSTVenTT audit studies this variation by collecting real-world data from patients undergoing major abdominal surgery across hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. This is an audit study, not a trial — meaning no experimental treatments are given. Instead, researchers track how each patient's anaemia was managed before, during, and after surgery, and compare those practices against recommended guidelines. The data will reveal which hospitals are following best practice, where gaps exist, and how different management approaches affect patient outcomes. This kind of evidence can directly drive quality improvements in surgical care. This study is open to adult patients aged 18 or older who are undergoing major elective or emergency abdominal surgery (any approach — open, laparoscopic, or robotic) at participating hospitals. Minor procedures like appendicectomies, endoscopies, and purely palliative operations are excluded.

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Interventions

An audit of the compliance to pre-, intra-, and postoperative guidelines for the management of anaemia in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. The audit aims to follow up with patients at arou