Effect of blood transfusion on tumor recurrence and postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistula formation in patients subjected to total laryngectomy.

Some surgical oncologists and otolaryngologists have reported that transfusion-induced immunosuppression may increase the incidence of recurrence and infectious complications in patients subjected to head and neck surgery for carcinoma. The relationship between intra-operative blood transfusion and postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistula formation and/or tumor recurrence is controversial. In a retrospective study of 110 total laryngectomized patients, we found no statistically significant differences between the transfused and nontransfused groups in terms of tumor recurrence and fistula formation.