Abstract
A retrospective study of phlebotomy practices was conducted in a hospital affiliated with a major teaching program. Cumulative volume of blood lost by phlebotomy was determined for patients on a general medical ward and compared to that for patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit or coronary care unit (ICU/CCU). The laboratory to which phlebotomy blood was sent for analysis and the total number of vascular punctures were also determined. All patients had blood drawn on day 1 of hospitalization; by day 5, only about 50% of each group observed underwent phlebotomy. Cumulative phlebotomy totals were higher for the ICU/CCU patient group than for the general medical group—185 mL/patient compared to 141 mL/patient by day 10 of the hospital stay. Despite substantial blood losses sustained by phlebotomy, little direct impact on blood hemoglobin concentration was apparent.Most of the blood drawn from each group was sent to either the chemistry laboratory or hematology laboratory. The data presented in this study provide a longitudinal view of phlebotomy practices in a teaching community hospital and provide valuable information about cumulative loss of blood by phlebotomy over time spent in the hospital.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
