Use of a Blood Gas Analyzer to Measure Blood Hemoglobin During Liver Transplantation: A Study of 935 Paired Samples

Abstract

IVER TRANSPLANTATION is associated with significant blood loss and frequent variations in blood hemoglobin concentrations. The administration of red blood cells (RBC) under strict rules supported by the hemoglobin values is an important strategy to reduce blood consumption. The rapidity of the analytic response is important for an appropriate transfusion policy. In general, blood gas analyzers measure hemoglobin concentrations accurately and are contiguous to operating rooms, contrary to standard Coulter analyzers, which are usually located in central hospital laboratories. The use of blood gas analyzers to measure hemoglobin has the advantage of rapidity, as there is no time wasted in transport. Additionally, a reduction in laboratory samples has economic advantages and spares patient blood. Some previous studies compared blood gas analyzers with standard laboratory Coulter analyzers, 1,2 however, as far we know, this was never done specifically in liver transplantation, in young children, at low levels of hemoglobin, or with high levels of bilirubin, factors which could influence the results. We performed this study with the purpose of evaluating the accuracy of a blood gas analyzer to measure hemoglobin in these specific conditions.