Key result
Routine preoperative hemoglobin testing in healthy patients undergoing low-risk elective surgery detected anemia (Hgb <9 g/dL) in only 0.8% of cases, with no resulting changes in management.
Why the study?
Does routine preoperative hemoglobin testing affect perioperative management in healthy patients undergoing low risk elective surgery?
Observational (n=9,584)
Does routine preoperative hemoglobin testing affect perioperative management in healthy patients undergoing low risk elective surgery?
Routine preoperative hemoglobin testing is not indicated in healthy patients undergoing low-risk elective surgery, as it rarely detects severe anemia and does not alter clinical management.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support selective over routine preoperative testing in low-risk outpatients; leaves open prospective trials to confirm safety of omission.
Asymptomatic anemia in healthy patients undergoing low risk surgery is rare. In this retrospective study, we examined the records of 9584 ASA class I-II patients scheduled for elective low risk surgery who had a preoperative hemoglobin (hgb) test for the presence of anemia. Hgb <9 g/dL was detected in 75 patients (0.8%). Perioperative management of anemia occurred in no cases of elective surgery in this group. Transfusion of red cells occurred in four other patients, all of whom had hgb >9 g/dL. In all cases, management decisions were based on clinical factors rather than the preoperative hemoglobin test. In healthy patients undergoing low risk elective surgery, routine preoperative hgb testing is not indicated.
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Olson et al. (2005) conducted an observational in ASA class I-II patients scheduled for elective low risk surgery (n=9,584). Preoperative hemoglobin testing was evaluated on Presence of anemia (Hgb <9 g/dL). Routine preoperative hemoglobin testing in healthy patients undergoing low-risk elective surgery detected anemia (Hgb <9 g/dL) in only 0.8% of cases, with no resulting changes in management.
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