Secondary outcome
The reticulocyte count grew rapidly after the use of rhEPO. From preoperative day 3 to postoperative day 3, reticulocyte counts in group A were always higher than those in groups B and C. From the day before surgery to the day after surgery, reticulocyte counts in group B were higher than those in group C (p<0.001) (Fig. 3). In terms of complications, no case of DVT or PE occurred in any group, and only a few cases of asymptomatic intermuscular vein thrombosis (IMVT) were observed in groups A (4, 6.7%), B (4, 6.7%) and C (5, 8.3%), without marked differences among the groups (P=0.92). The three dosing schedules of rhEPO were well-tolerated, with few adverse events: nausea in 11, pyrexia in 8, and headache in 4 patients, but there was no significant difference among the three groups (P>0.05) (Table 3). No deaths or readmissions occurred within 21 days postoperatively.