The influence of haemoglobin and platelet levels on the results of arterial surgery

Abstract

The early complications of 445 arterial operations were analysed with reference to the preoperative haemoglobin concentration and platelet count. The haemoglobin levels were compared with those of 200 non-arteriosclerotic control subjects, and the influence of cigarette smoking on the haemoglobin levels of both groups was assessed. It was concluded that smoking did not affect the haemoglobin levels and that arterio-sclerotic patients tended to have higher haemoglobin levels than normal controls. It seems that the higher the haemoglobin or platelet level the greater is the risk of complications at or soon after operation.