Value and Relevance of Routine Postoperative Blood Sample Analysis after General Surgery-A Single Centre Analysis of 1198 Patients

Dalil Ali; Claudius Juergens; Markus Unnewehr; Maximilian Schmeding-

Value and Relevance of Routine Postoperative Blood Sample Analysis after General Surgery-A Single Centre Analysis of 1198 Patients

by Dalil Ali^1,3, Claudius Juergens^1,2, Markus Unnewehr^2,4, Maximilian Schmeding^1-3*

¹Department of Surgery, Klinikum Dortmund, Beurhausstrase 40, 44137 Dortmund, Germany

²Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50, 58448 Witten, Germany

³RWTH Aachen University, Faculty of Medicine, Pauwelsstr, 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

⁴Department of Respiratory Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Sleep Medicine, Allergology, St. Barbara-Klinik, Am Heessener Wald 1, 59073 Hamm, Germany

^*Corresponding author: Maximilian Schmeding, Department of Surgery, Klinikum Dortmund, Beurhausstrase 40, 44137 Dortmund, Germany

Received Date: 03 February 2025

Accepted Date: 10 February 2025

Published Date: 12 February 2025

Citation: Ali D, Juergens C, Unnewehr M, Schmeding M (2025) Value and Relevance of Routine Postoperative Blood Sample Analysis after General Surgery-A Single Centre Analysis of 1198 Patients. J Surg 10: 11252 https://doi.org/10.29011/2575-9760.011252

Abstract

Background: Routine blood sample analysis is performed in most surgical institutions after general surgery on the first postoperative day. Substantial economical impact is thereby generated in addition to patient distress caused by venous puncture.

Aim: The presented study was designed to analyse the relevance of postoperative routine blood sampling with special focus on patient safety.

Methods: 1198 patients undergoing minor general surgical procedures (appendectomy, cholecystectomy, groin hernia repair) at our institution were retrospectively analysed. Data was gathered and forwarded to statistical evaluation with respect to patient safety and economical impact / cost-saving potential.

Discussion: Our data suggests that routine postoperative blood sample analysis after minor general surgery has very little impact on the further clinical course. Patient safety is not at risk. Regarding the economical and distressing impacts of routine blood-drawing postoperatively it should be evaluated if routine sampling could be limited to special interest cases.