['To assess the putative impact of perioperative blood transfusions on overall and disease-free survival in patients undergoing curative resection of stage I-III rectal cancer by applying propensity-scoring methods.', 'Whether perioperative blood transfusions negatively impact survival remains a matter of great debate.', 'In a single-center study, 401 patients undergoing open curative resection of stage I-III rectal cancer between 1996 and 2008 were assessed. The median follow-up was 34.2 months. Patients who did and did not receive perioperative blood transfusions were compared using Cox regression and propensity score analyses.', "Overall, 217 patients (54.1%) received blood transfusions. Patients' characteristics were highly biased concerning transfusions (propensity score 0.77±0.23 vs. 0.28±0.25; P<0.001). In unadjusted analysis, blood transfusions were associated with a 119% increased risk of mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 2.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.34-3.57, P=0.001]. In propensity score-adjusted Cox regression (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.65-1.58, P=0.970), blood transfusions did not increase the risk of overall survival. Similarly, in propensity score-adjusted Cox regression (HR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.60-1.23, P=0.672), blood transfusions were not associated with an increased risk of recurrence."] Do perioperative blood transfusions impact overall and disease-free survival after curative rectal cancer resection : a propensity score analysis?