Development of the liver resection transfusion (LiReT) score to assess the requirement for blood transfusion during open liver surgery.

BACKGROUND

Liver resection involves significant perioperative bleeding and blood transfusions, which may worsen outcomes. Blood products are scarce, and excessive preoperative cross-matching can deplete the blood supply. This study aimed to develop a clinical prediction score to assess the need for perioperative blood transfusions during liver resection.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from patients who underwent liver resections between 2006 and 2021. Independent predictors and a scoring system were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. The model's effectiveness was assessed by the area under the ROC curve (AuROC) and calibration plots, with internal validation.

RESULT: Among 1021 patients, 456 (44.7%) required perioperative blood transfusions. Eight predictors were identified: ASA classification >2, preoperative anemia, platelet count <100 × 109/L, albumin <3.5 g/dL, total bilirubin >1.2 mg/dL, GFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m², maximum tumor diameter ≥5 cm, and major liver resection. The LiReT score categorized patients into low, moderate, and high-risk groups and showed good discriminative ability with an AuROC of 0.808 and good calibration.

CONCLUSION

The LiReT score, with its good predictive accuracy, can guide clinicians in assessing perioperative blood transfusion risk, optimizing cross-matching and resource utilization, and facilitating patient blood management strategies during liver resection.