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Pre-operative haemoglobin estimation in paediatric ENT surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Timothy J. Hoare
Timothy J. Hoare*
Affiliation:
This study was performed at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, West Midlands
*
T. J. Hoare, F.R.C.S., Senior Registrar in ENT, Gloucester Royal Hospital, Gloucester GL1 3NN
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Abstract

Estimation of haemoglobin is still undertaken routinely before ENT surgery in many centres despite evidence that it is unnecessary, traumatic and expensive. The haemoglobin was estimated of all 372 children about to undergo ENT surgery in a busy district general hospital over a one year period. No child was noted to be clinically anacmic, and no child had a haemoglobin of less than 9 g/dl. Of 18 children with a haemoglobin level of 10.5 or less, 10 had their operations postponed and eight did not. There were no complications in the latter group. We can find no published evidence that operating on children with mild anaemia is unsafe. Ceasing routine pre-operative haemoglobin estimation would safely save an estimated £9000 per year in our unit.

Keywords

ChildPreoperative careCosts and cost analysisDiagnostic testsroutineAnaemiaHaemoglobin
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 107 , Issue 12 , December 1993 , pp. 1146 - 1148
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1993

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