Optimum Hemoglobin Level For Day Care Surgery In Children

Muhammad Afzal Mirza, Muhammad Bilal Mirza, Mohsin Riaz Askari, Muhammad Ismail, Sadaqat Ali, Sarfraz Ahmad

Abstract

Objective 

To find the optimum hemoglobin (Hb) level safe for day care surgeries in children.

Study design

Retrospective review of records.

Place & Duration of study

The Children’s Hospital and the Institute of Child Health Faisalabad, and Sargodha Medical College Sargodha, from January 2017 to June 2017.

Methodology•

The medical records of all the day care surgeries performed were reviewed for types of day care surgeries performed, preoperative hemoglobin level of the patients, and anesthesia related outcomes. Patients were divided in groups based on hemoglobin level. Variables were compared using SPSS version 16.

Results

A total of 642 patients were operated as day care cases. It included 447 males and 195 females. Commonly performed surgeries were for Inguinal hernia, umbilical hernia, undescended testes, hydrocele, circumcision, hypospadias, abscesses, rectal polyp,  prolapse etc. There were 42 patients In group 1 with Hb 7-8 gm%, in group 2 (Hb 8-9 gm%) 185 patients, in group 3 (Hb 9-10 gm%) 254 patients, in group 4 (Hb 10-11 gm%) 77 patients, and in group 5 (Hb>11 gm%) 84 patients. There were only three events of saturation drop to less than 80% which settled with endotracheal tube readjustment (2 in group 3, and 1 in group 4). Recovery was delayed in10 patients (1 patient in group 1, 1 patient in group 2, 4 patients in group 3, 2 patients in group 4, 2 patients in group 5 ) but remained  uneventful. No statistical difference in recovery from anesthesia was noted in different groups hemoglobin levels.

Conclusion

Day care surgery can safely be performed with hemoglobin level over 8 g/dl.

Key words

Day care surgery; Hemoglobin level; Anesthesia.