Risk factors of total blood loss in the posterior surgery for patients with thoracolumbar metastasis

Abstract Background Blood loss in posterior surgery patients with thoracolumbar metastasis posed a significant challenge to surgeons. This study aimed to explore the risk factors of blood loss in posterior surgery for patients with thoracolumbar metastasis. Methods One hundred forty-two patients were retrospectively reviewed. Their baseline characteristics were recorded. The Gross equation was used to calculate blood loss on a surgical day. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the risk factors. Results Mean blood loss of 142 patients were 2055 ± 94 ml. Hypervascular primary tumor (kidney, thyroid and liver) (P = 0.017), wide or marginal excision (en-bloc: P = 0.001), metastasis at the lumbar spine (P = 0.033), and the presence of extraosseous tumor mass (P = 0.012) were independent risk factors of blood loss in the posterior surgery. Sub-analysis showed that wide or marginal excision (en-bloc: P