Evaluation of skin graft take following post-burn raw area in normovolaemic anaemia

BACKGROUND: Traditional wisdom is that wound healing is directly related to haemoglobin level in the blood; therefore blood transfusion is given in anaemic patients to raise the haemoglobin level for better wound healing. METHODS: Evaluation of wound healing in the form of split thickness skin graft take was done in 35 normovolaemic anaemic patients (haemoglobin level of < 10 gm/ dl) and compared with control group (patients with haemoglobin level of 10 or > 10 gm/ dl). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in mean graft take between the two groups. CONCLUSION: It is not mandatory to keep haemoglobin level at or >10 g/dL or PCV value at or >30% for skin graft take, as mild to moderate anaemia per se does not cause any deleterious effect on wound healing; provided perfusion is maintained by adequate circulatory volume. Prophylactic transfusion to increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood for the purpose of wound healing is not indicated in asymptomatic normovolemic anaemic patients (with haemoglobin levels greater than 6g/dL) without significant cardiovascular or pulmonary disease.