# 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.

## Key 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.