BLOOD LOSS DURING OPERATIONS

Abstract

There have been enough significant studies reported to show that measuring blood loss during an operation is a practical and worth-while procedure. Although it has become a standard method in some clinics, it is not a generally accepted and routine practice. Gatch and Little,¹in 1924, were the first to measure blood loss. Blain,²in 1929, commenting on his experience with 3,000 transfusions, noted that "the amount of blood lost during operations is often several times greater than that estimated by the surgeon." Within the past few years articles by Coller and his associates and by Stewart,³studies from Wangensteen's clinic, and reports by several others have resulted in the following conclusions: The blood loss is always greater than the surgeon may estimate or anticipate. There is no correlation between the amount of blood lost and the changes in the hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cell