Aug 23, 2019
How important is it to screen patients for anaemia before
surgery? Has anaemia fallen off the health care agenda?
We begin with a conversation about patients who are anaemic and
then turn to why this is sometimes not checked enough. Monty Mythen
mentions UK University students appear to suffer from the condition
more these days and Lori Heller points out that treating the
condition, as part of patient optimisation, is something of a
revelation for some, even occasionally removing the need for
surgery altogether.
Discussion continues regarding haemoglobin levels and the
differentiation between men and women. The importance of
discovering the condition early on in the pre-habilitation process
is also emphasised. Towards the end of the piece Monty makes some
time to speak about the "Iron Woman - Iron Therapy for Female
athletes" study instigated by Professor Toby Richards.
This piece features Professors Monty Mythen and
Mike Grocott with guests Lori
Heller, Cardiac Anaestheisologist from US Anaesthesia
Partners at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, and Mike
Scott, Professor in the department of Anesthesiology
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System in Richmond USA.