The Acceptable Haemoglobin’s Drop after Uncomplicated Caesarean Sections

TL;DR

This study finds that a small drop in hemoglobin levels is normal after uncomplicated caesarean sections and is not significantly linked to blood loss.

Contribution

The study establishes reference values for acceptable hemoglobin drops after uncomplicated caesarean sections.

Findings

The average hemoglobin drop 48 hours post-surgery was 1.28 gms%.

The hemoglobin drop one week post-surgery was 1.3 gms%.

No significant correlation was found between hemoglobin drop and blood loss during surgery.

Abstract

Routine haemoglobin assay is a common postoperative (PO) practice after caesarean sections (CSs). There is no consensus regarding the acceptable haemoglobin’s (Hb’s) drop after uncomplicated CSs. Objective: To detect the acceptable Hb’s drop after uncomplicated caesarean sections (CSs).

Seventy-five (75) participants delivered by uncomplicated elective CSs (ECSs) were recruited for the current study. Participants’ pre-operative Hb was compared to PO-Hbs using t-test to detect the acceptable Hb’s drop after uncomplicated ECSs. Correlations between the 48-hrs. PO-Hb’s drop or 1-week PO-Hb’s drop and estimated blood loss (EBL) during uncomplicated ECSs was detected using Pearson’s correlation.

Mean duration of uncomplicated ECS was 43.3 ± 1.7 min. and mean EBL during uncomplicated ECSs was 654.4 ± 54.49 ml. No significant difference was detected in this study when 48-hrs. PO-Hb (10.89 ± 0.43 gms%) or 1-week PO-Hb (10.86 ± 0.46 gms%) were compared to the participants’ pre-operative Hb (12.2 ± 0.46 gms%), (p=0.3 and 0.5, respectively).

Mean 48-hrs. and 1-week PO-Hb’s drop after uncomplicated ECSs were 1.28 ± 0.09 and 1.3 ± 0.07 gms%, respectively. The correlation between 48-hrs. PO-Hb’s drop and EBL during uncomplicated ECSs was not significant (r=−0.14; p=0.23). The correlation between 1-week PO-Hb’s drop and EBL during uncomplicated ECSs was also not significant (r=0.017; p=0.89).

Mean 48-hrs. and 1-week PO-Hb’s drop after uncomplicated ECSs were 1.28 ± 0.09 and 1.3 ± 0.07 gms%, respectively. Correlations between either the 48-hrs. PO-Hb’s drop or 1-week PO-Hb’s drop and EBL during uncomplicated ECSs were not significant.

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