[Do lowered hemoglobin and hematocrit levels have a favorable effect on early septic complications in colorectal surgery?].

A group of 114 colorectal resections was investigated for preoperative haemoglobin and haematocrit in relation to postoperative septic complications. The group subdivided in men and women with and without complications were comparable in respect of their age and their diseases. There were significant differences in the preoperative levels of Hb and Ht in the groups with and without postoperative septic complications (p less than 0.05). The mean values were 14.7 g/dl for men with postoperative complications and 13.7 g/dl for those without any complications. The corresponding Ht-values were 45% vs. 42%. The mean values of Hb for women were 13.9 g/dl in the groups with postoperative complications and 12.9 g/dl in those without any complications (Ht-values 43% resp. 39%).