Associations between pre-operative iron deficiency and postoperative infection in patients undergoing major surgery (CARIPO): a prospective observational study

Abstract

Iron deficiency, with or without anaemia, is common during the peri-operative period. It has been hypothesised that pre-operative iron deficiency is associated with an increased incidence of postoperative infection. We designed the CARIPO prospective observational study to assess the incidence of postoperative infection in patients with and without iron deficiency undergoing a variety of major surgeries.