What is it about?

One of the parameters known to mirror the functional reservoirs required for proper recovery after surgery is hemoglobin. An abnormal circulating level before surgery is considered a risk factor for poor medical and surgical outcomes in spinal patients. Hemoglobin is an assembly of four globular polypeptide chains that fill the warp of red blood cells, carrying up to four oxygen molecules attached to iron atoms. Together with the erythrocytes and their volume over total blood (i.e., hematocrit), hemoglobin reflects oxygen-carrying capacity, functional iron levels, and correct erythropoiesis. To the authors' knowledge, there are no studies in spine surgery that have investigated the potential of preoperative hemoglobin in predicting clinical success from a patient's point of view. We studied a large cohort of patients undergoing spine surgery for deformities, disc disease, and other back conditions to identify predictors of long-term functional status using hemoglobin-based models.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Hemoglobin concentration is one of the benchmarks for planning transfusion therapy strategy along with other laboratory parameters such as hematocrit. Therefore, preoperative iron optimization is considered a key aspect of patient blood management and enhanced recovery after surgery.

Perspectives

Our study sheds light on the role of preoperative hemoglobin and red blood cells in predicting long-term recovery reported by patients. Based on this research, values of red blood cells <4 10^6/μl and of hemoglobin <12 g/dl in both genders may be associated with excessive rates of long-term failure after spine surgery from a patient's perspective. In the future, the correct stratification of individuals at risk will ensure opportunities to optimize patients' health in time for surgery, more affordable clinical care, and greater patient satisfaction.

Dr. M. Briguglio
IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi - Sant'Ambrogio

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Prediction of Long-Term Recovery From Disability Using Hemoglobin-Based Models: Results From a Cohort of 1,392 Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery, Frontiers in Surgery, March 2022, Frontiers,
DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.850342.
You can read the full text:

Read

Resources

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page