Routine haemoglobin assay after uncomplicated caesarean sections

INTRODUCTION: This study designed to detect whether the routine haemoglobin (Hb) assay after uncomplicated caesarean section (CS) is necessary. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-two (122) women who delivered by uncomplicated elective CS were included in this observational study. Pre-operative investigations were performed according to the hospital protocol, including complete blood count, haemoglobin, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and liver and kidney function tests. After the uncomplicated elective CS, blood samples taken from participants immediately, 12, 24, 48 hours, and 1-week post-operative (PO) for haemoglobin assay. Student’s t-test was used to compare the pre-operative, and PO haemoglobins to detect whether or not the Hb assay after uncomplicated CSs is necessary. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the pre-operative haemoglobin (11.6 ± 6.4 gms%), and the immediate PO haemoglobin (11.1 ± 5.9; p = 0.1 [95% CI: –1.05, 0.5, 2.05]) or 12-hour PO haemoglobin (10.9 ± 7.3; p = 0.9 [95% CI: –1.03, 0.7, 2.43]) or 24-hour PO haemoglobin (10.7 ± 8.2; p = 0.9 [95% CI: –0.95, 0.9, 2.75]). In addition, there was no significant difference between the pre-operative haemoglobin (11.6 ± 6.4 gms%), and 48-hour PO haemoglobin (11.2 ± 6.9; p = 0.7 [95% CI: –1.28, 0.4, 2.08]), or 1-week PO haemoglobin (11.4 ± 7.5; p = 0.9 [95% CI: –1.55, 0.2, 1.95]). CONCLUSIONS: Routine PO haemoglobin assay after uncomplicated elective CSs is not necessary, especially when the pre-operative haemoglobin before the ECS ≥ 11 gms%, CS duration < 45 min, and estimated intra-operative blood loss ≤ 500 mL.