Role of Intravenous Iron in Elective and Non-elective Orthopedic Surgery

Perioperative anemia is a common condition among patients undergoing orthopedic surgery, and there was an inverse relationship between baseline hemoglobin and the probability of receiving allogeneic blood transfusion. Perioperative intravenous iron reduces the frequency and volume of allogenic blood transfusion in orthopedic surgery, facilitates autologous blood donation, and may hasten the recovery from postoperative anemia, while preserving iron stores. These effects seem to be augmented by the addition of a single dose of erythropoietin (EPO). In addition, iron sucrose administration seems to decrease infections and morbidity-mortality after hip fracture repair, although it should not be given to patients with ongoing bacteremia.