Meyer HM, Torborg A, Cronje L, et al. - By performing this secondary analysis of the South African Paediatric Surgical Outcomes Study, researchers examined the link between preoperative anaemia and 26 defined postoperative complications, among noncardiac paediatric surgical patients. They also assessed the prevalence of anaemia as well as risk factors for intraoperative blood transfusion. All consecutive patients aged between 6 months and < 16 years, who underwent elective and non‐elective noncardiac surgery and had a pre‐operative haemoglobin documented were included, and those aged < 6 months, undergoing cardiac surgery, or without a preoperative Hb measured were eliminated. Findings revealed a high prevalence of preoperative anaemia in a low‐ and middle‐income country, as well as its link with increased postoperative complications. In addition, preoperative anaemia was identified as an independent predictor of intraoperative blood transfusion.