title: [Limited value of routine preoperative laboratory studies in children].
abstract: In order to determine whether in routine preoperative laboratory testing of children abnormal results were reported which influenced the course of the anesthesia or of the operation, a retrospective survey of charts was carried out at the University Children's Hospital, Groningen. The patients involved were 143 low risk children, admitted for ENT surgery. The main outcome measures were abnormalities and perioperative complications. There were 1.4% laboratory abnormalities (including five children with a haemoglobin concentration less than 7.1 mmol/l, one with a calcium concentration less than 2.2 mmol/l, one with an albumin concentration less than 30 g/l), and seven complications (bradycardia during intubation, bronchial obstruction, bleeding, excessive vomiting (three times), and leakage of perilymphatic fluid). There were no correlations between the abnormal test results and the complications. Routine laboratory testing in children scheduled for surgery might be reduced to measurement of haemoglobin, especially in non-white children.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Ziekenhuis, Afd, Kindergeneeskunde, Groningen.
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Harbers
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Heymans
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Harbers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies
vernacular_title: Beperkte waarde van routinematig preoperatief laboratoriumonderzoek bij kinderen.