Hidden Blood Loss and Its Influential Factors After Laparoscopy-Assisted Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Quantification and influencing factors of perioperative hidden blood loss in patients undergoing laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for benign ovarian tumours

This retrospective, monocentric study quantified hidden blood loss (HBL) and investigated its influencing factors in benign ovarian tumour patients undergoing laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy. Data from 153 patients who underwent laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy were retrospectively reviewed. HBL was calculated using the formula derived from 'Nadler' and 'Cross'. Pearson correlation was carried out to measure the association between HBL and potential risk factors. The average HBL was 280.22 ± 168.42 mL, accounting for 84.13 ± 19.20% of total blood loss (TBL) (347.48 ± 179.05 mL), which was a change of almost fourteen-fold relative to median visible blood loss [20.00 mL (10.00 mL, 57.5 mL)]. Surgical time, number of excisional tumours and preoperative albumin values were risk factors for HBL. HBL represents a large proportion more than 80% of TBL in patients undergoing laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy. Collectively, HBL is helpful for estimating intraoperative blood loss and better guidance of haemostatic agents, which reduces postoperative complications and expedites postoperative recovery. Additionally, the estimation of HBL also contributes to the summary, reflection and improvement of surgical technique.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? There has been a growing number of surgical patients with perioperative anaemia, which appears to be inconsistent with measured levels of visible intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage. This substantial but easily underestimated blood loss is known as hidden blood loss. To date, no published articles have evaluated HBL and its related risk factors in benign ovarian tumour patients undergoing laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy.What the results of this study add? HBL accounts for a large amount of TBL in laparoscopy for benign ovarian tumours. Surgical time, number of excisional tumours and preoperative albumin values are risk factors for HBL.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The management of HBL is important for the administration of perioperative blooding loss. In this context, HBL can be applied to estimate intraoperative blood loss and be better guidance of haemostatic agents to reduce postoperative complications and hasten postoperative rehabilitation. Additionally, the estimation of HBL also contributes to the summary, reflection and improvement of surgical technique.

Bone Density May Be a Promising Predictor for Blood Loss during Total Hip Arthroplasty

Background: Total hip arthroplasty (THA), which is performed mostly in elderly individuals, can result in substantial blood loss and thereby imposes a significant physical burden and risk of blood transfusion. The femoral neck cut and reamed acetabulum are the main sites of intraoperative bleeding. Whether the bone density in that region can be used to predict the amount of blood loss in THA is unknown. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed adult patients undergoing primary THA in the Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, from January 2018 to January 2020. All these patients underwent primary unilateral THA. Patients had their bone mineral density (BMD) recorded within the week before surgery and were stratified and analyzed for perioperative blood loss. Multivariable regressions were utilized to adjust for differences in demographics and comorbidities among groups. Results: A total of 176 patients were included in the study. Intraoperative blood loss was 280.1 ± 119.56 mL. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between blood loss and preoperative bone density of both the femoral greater trochanter (R = 0.245, p = 0.001) and the Ward’s triangle (R = 0.181, p = 0.016). Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that preoperative bone density of the greater trochanter (p = 0.015, 95% CI: 0.004–0.049) and sex (p = 0.002) were independent risk factors for THA bleeding. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of the greater trochanter and Ward’s triangle was 0.593 (95% CI: 0.507–0.678, p = 0.035) and 0.603 (95% CI: 0.519–0.688, p = 0.018), respectively. The cutoff T value on the femoral greater trochanter for predicting higher bleeding was −1.75. Conclusions: In THA patients, preoperative bone density values of the femoral greater trochanter and sex could be promising independent predictors for bleeding during surgery. Osteoporosis and female patients might have lower blood loss in the THA operation.

Analysis of hidden blood loss and its influential factors in myomectomy

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to quantify hidden blood loss (HBL) and explore its influential factors in myomectomy.

METHODS

Two hundred nine patients who underwent myomectomy by laparotomy or laparoscopy from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018 were analyzed. Each patient's estimated blood volume and total blood loss (TBL) were calculated by the Nadler formula and Gross formula, respectively. The HBL was calculated by subtracting the visible blood loss (VBL) from the TBL. A multivariate linear stepwise analysis was applied to identify the influential factors of HBL in myomectomy.

RESULTS

The mean perioperative VBL and estimated TBL during myomectomy were 137.81 ±104.43 and 492.24 ± 225.00 mL, respectively. The mean HBL was 354.39 ± 177.69 mL, which accounted for 71.52% ± 15.75% of the TBL and was two to three times higher than the VBL. The duration of surgery, number of removed leiomyomas, and location of removed leiomyomas were independent risk factors for HBL in myomectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

HBL accounted for a significant percentage of TBL in myomectomy. A full understanding of the HBL in perioperative blood management may improve patients' postoperative rehabilitation.

Hidden blood loss and its risk factors in patients undergoing laparoscopy and laparotomy for cervical cancer management

PURPOSE

Laparoscopy and laparotomy are the two most common surgical options used to treat women with early-stage cervical cancer. This study aimed to examine the volume of hidden blood loss (HBL) between laparoscopy and laparotomy for cervical cancer and to identify its risk factors.

METHODS

Sixty-one patients treated with laparotomy and 50 patients treated with laparoscopy were enrolled in this study. Their medical data were collected to calculate the HBL according to the Nadler and Gross formula, and its risk factors were identified by multiple linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The visible blood loss was 574.9 ± 271.6 mL in the laparotomy surgery; however, the HBL was 345.2 ± 258.6 mL, accounting for 38.3 ± 21.4% of true TBL. The visible blood loss in the laparoscopy group was 168.9 ± 121.9 mL, and the HBL was 185.1 ± 130.5 mL (52.3 ± 28.1% of true TBL). The HBL blood loss in laparotomy was more than laparoscopy (p < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis suggested that patient age (p = 0.012), surgical time (p = 0.037) and pathological tumour type (p = 0.014) were independent risk factors contributing to HBL in laparotomy. Meanwhile, the following risk factors were positively correlated with HBL in laparoscopy: pre-operative value of Hb (p = 0.002), pre-operative value of Hct (p = 0.003), surgical time (p = 0.035), pathological tumour type (p = 0.036) and diabetes mellitus (p = 0.022). Ten and eight patients had pre-operative anaemia in the laparotomy group and the laparoscopy group, respectively, and 54 and 29 post-operatively.

CONCLUSIONS

HBL is seriously underestimated, and accounts for a large percentage of total blood loss both in laparotomy and laparoscopy for cervical cancer. Additionally, age, pathological tumour type, pre-operative value of Hb and Hct, surgical time and diabetes mellitus have the potential to increase HBL. A correct understanding of HBL can ensure patient safety and improve post-operative rehabilitation.

Is Intraoperative Blood Loss Underestimated in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Hepatectomy?

BACKGROUND

Less intraoperative blood loss is frequently reported as an advantage of laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) over open hepatectomy (OH). However, the small work space during laparoscopic surgery could lead to insufficient blood suction from the abdominal cavity, with possible underestimation of intraoperative blood loss. This study compared estimated blood loss (E-BL) with intraoperatively counted blood loss (IC-BL) in patients undergoing LH.

METHODS

This study included 110 consecutive patients undergoing partial hepatectomy for solitary liver tumors (59 had OH and 51 had LH). IC-BL and E-BL were determined, and the difference between them was calculated based on the surgical approach. Factors affecting the difference were investigated. IC-BL was quantified from the suction fluid volume and weight of surgical gauzes used for blood and fluid collection. E-BL was calculated with the total blood volume and change in hematocrit.

RESULTS

Although there were no significant differences between IC-BL and E-BL in the OH group (292 ± 198 vs. 259 ± 167 mL, p = 0.1239), E-BL was significantly greater than IC-BL in the LH group (273 ± 166 vs. 128 ± 177 mL, p < 0.0001). Percentage of patients with E-BL > IC-BL in the LH group was significantly greater than in the OH group (86.3 vs. 42.4%, p < 0.0001). The surgical approach (OH/LH) was the only significant independent factor determining E-BL > IC-BL status.

CONCLUSIONS

E-BL was significantly greater than IC-BL only in patients undergoing LH, and the surgical approach (OH/LH) was the only factor affecting E-BL > IC-BL status. These results suggest that intraoperative blood loss may be underestimated during LH.