Multiple Blood Tests May Cause Problems for Surgical Patients

A Cleveland Clinic study finds that cardiac surgery patients may be at higher risk for complications if they undergo frequent blood tests.

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Patients who have heart surgery tend to have their blood drawn several times before and after their operations. Health care providers are looking for signs of infection or anemia.But a recent study by Cleveland Clinic researchers suggests that too many blood tests may be a problem. A study published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery found laboratory testing of patients undergoing cardiac surgery can lead to excessive bloodletting. And that increases the risk of developing hospital-acquired anemia and a greater need for blood transfusions.
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