A study published in Lancet, Sept 2011, revealed that patients who have even mild anemia (decreased blood count) before undergoing surgery have increased risk of death and complications at 30 days after surgery. The risks were significant with both mild anemia (hematocrit between 29% and 39% in men, up to 36% in women) and moderate anemia (29% or lower in both sexes). The complications included heart, lung, urinary tract, blood clots, blood infection and wound complications.
COMMENT: The hematocrit reflects the percentage of red blood cells in the blood. Since they carry oxygen to all tissues, the more the red cells, the better the oxygenation. Both blood circulation and oxygen delievery to the tissues are very important in the healing process and maintaining the organs of the body.
Unfortunately, too many times, anemia is ignored and surgery is performed anyway. In this study, out of 225,000 patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, one third had anemia. Before undergoing surgery, make sure you are not anemic.
Posted on
Fri, October 7, 2011
by Larry Altshuler, M.D.
filed under