[Preoperative iron deficiency with/without anemia-an underestimated risk factor?]

Every third surgical patient already suffers from anemia before surgery. The main cause is iron deficiency.This article describes the perioperative risk of iron deficiency with/without anemia and summarizes potential preventive measures.Presentation of various current original papers, guidelines and own experiences from the German patient blood management network.Preoperative iron deficiency with/without anemia is an underestimated risk factor for perioperative complications. The implementation of preoperative diagnostics and treatment as part of a comprehensive patient blood management reduces complications and increases patient safety.