Effect of Different Anesthetic Techniques on Post-operative Hemoglobin and Hematocrit Levels Following Abdominal Hysterectomy; a Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Hemorrhage and drop in hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) levels are the major complications of hysterectomy. This study was conducted to compare the effect of different anesthetic techniques on post-operative Hb and Hct levels following abdominal hysterectomy. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed on 100 women aged between 35 and 70 years old in 2013. They were classified as classes I and II according to the American Society of Anesthesiology physical status classification and were candidates for abdominal hysterectomy due to benign causes. The patients were assigned into two groups of spinal and general anesthesia (50 patients per group). The pre- and 24 h post-operative levels of Hb and Hct and systolic and diastolic blood pressure during surgery were recorded 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min after the onset of general and spinal anesthesia. Data analysis was performed using t-test, Mann-Whitney U and Chi-squared tests by SPSS software, version 22. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was no significant different regarding age, the duration of anesthesia and surgery, mean pre-operative levels of Hb and Hct (P>0.05). The mean post-operative levels of Hb were 9.64±1.12 mg/dl and 10.24±1.11 mg/dl with general and spinal anesthesia, respectively. Moreover, the post-operative levels of Hct were 29.83±3.21% and 32.45±3.05% with the spinal and general anesthesia, respectively (P=0.009 and P<0.001). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the patients in the general anesthesia group than those in the spinal anesthesia group. Conclusion: The decrease in the post-operative levels of Hb and Hct in the patients who underwent general anesthesia was greater than those who underwent spinal anesthesia.

Keywords

• abdominal hysterectomy
• general anesthesia
• hematocrit
• hemorrhage
• hemoglobin
• spinal anesthesia