A quest for measuring intra operative blood loss in Maxillofacial surgery

Abstract

Aim: To find out a simple, standardized method to measure intra-operative blood loss during major oral surgical procedures which alerts the clinicians to manage untoward outcomes in time.

Materials & Method: Patients who underwent surgical intervention for various dentofacial deformities, maxillofacial pathologies, maxillofacial trauma under general anesthesia via an intra oral approach from Jan 2014 – Aug 2015 were included in the study. Thirty such patients belonging to the above entities were randomly categorized into 2 groups of 15 each based on the method of measuring the intra op blood loss. In Group A the blood loss was measured by Sahlis method and in Group B, the blood loss was measured by cyanomethemoglobin method. All the procedures were performed via an intra oral approach under general anesthesia.

Results: The amount of intra operative blood loss measured through Sahli’s method appeared to be insensitive and not standardized. However, the one measured through Cyanomethemoglobin method was more accurate, standardized and easy to perform.

Conclusion: Cyanomethemoglobin method is an accurate, reliable, chair side, inexpensive, easy to perform, standardized technique to measure the intra operative blood loss in the recent times.