[Portable hemoglobinometer for bedside monitoring of capillary blood hemoglobin in patients with acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage].

INTRODUCTION

Monitoring of hemoglobin is necessary in patients with gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Take blood sample and analysis at laboratory with automatum is the gold standard. A fast determination of hemoglobin at the bedside is possible with a portable haemoglobinometer Hemocue.

AIMS AND

METHODS

To assess correlation of capillary hemoglobin by Hemocue at the bedside, with venous hemoglobin by Coulter STKS in laboratory, for the monitoring of patients with a gastrointestinal haemorrhage hospitalized at november 2001 to july 2002. Statistical analysis used t test student apparied, and the determination of correlation coefficient r.

RESULTS

Fourteen males and 8 females 61+/-17 aged had taking 204 venous blood samples and 204 capillaries blood simultaneously. Gastrointestinal haemorrhage was related with variceal bleeding (n=11), a duodenal ulcer (n =6), an esophagitis peptic ulcer (n =1), a diverticulous colitis (n =2), a gastric cancer (n =1), and an ischemic colitis (n =1). Initial hemoglobin was at 7.6+/-2,4 g/dL. Transfusion of 3+/-3 blood unit were realised in 17 patients. Means of hemoglobin were 9.15+/-1,62 g/dL on venous blood analyzed in laboratory, and 9.43 +/- 1,72 g/dL on blood capillary by Hemocue at the bedside. Correlation coefficient r was 0.87 (p <0.001). Variceal or others bleeding, fluid infusion for hypovolaemia, red cell transfusion and widespread of low level hemoglobin do not disturbed the validity of results.

CONCLUSION

In acute period of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage, monitoring of hemoglobin by Hemocue with capillary blood at the bedside is a reliable method.