Objective: Recent studies have suggested an impact of the ABO-blood group type on thromboembolic and haemorrhagic events following trauma and surgical procedures. However, only limited data are available on the impact of ABO-blood group types in neurosurgical patients. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the role of the ABO-blood group type on the frequency of thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications in patients treated surgically for intracranial meningiomas at our institution.
Methods: We retrospectively analysed the medical records of consecutive patients undergoing resection of intracranial meningiomas at our institution during a period of 12.5 years (2006-2018). Clinical characteristics, modalities of surgical treatment, histopathological results and the postoperative course of patients were analysed with specific focus on ABO-blood group typing results, need for transfusion of blood products, events of postoperative thromboembolism and intracranial re-haemorrhage requiring surgical revision, as well as in-hospital mortality.
Results: A total of 1,782 patients were included in this study. Based on the ABO-blood group type, patients were subdivided into four categories, corresponding to their ABO-blood group: Blood group A (n = 773; 43%); blood group B (n = 222; 12%); blood group AB (n = 88; 5%); and blood group O (n = 699; 39%). Intracranial re-haemorrhage requiring re-craniotomy and haematoma evacuation occurred in a total of 49 patients (2.7%). Thromboembolic events such as pulmonary embolism occurred in a total of 27 patients (1.5%). Statistical analysis showed no significant differences regarding the ABO-blood group type in patients suffering from re-haemorrhage or thromboembolism compared with patients with uneventful course after surgery. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 0.17% (n = 3).
Conclusion: Our findings suggest a lack of relevance of the ABO-blood group type regarding haemorrhagic and thromboembolic complications in patients undergoing neurosurgical meningioma resection.
Keywords: ABO-blood group system; bleeding; haemostasis; perioperative medicine; pulmonary embolism.