Preoperative Coagulation Screening in Elective Surgery: Prevalence and Spectrum of Hemostatic Abnormalities in Diyala Governorate

Abstract

Preoperative screening tests are important for recognizing medical conditions that may mark surgical or anesthetic outcomes. This study evaluated the usefulness of routine coagulation screening in detecting bleeding risks prior to elective surgery. Over one year (January 2023–January 2024), 500 patients referred for preoperative assessment at Al-Shams Medical Laboratory in Diyala Governorate were studied (220 males, 280 females; age range 2–76 years). All patients underwent basic coagulation tests, including PT, APTT, TT, fibrinogen level, and platelet count. Patients with abnormal results were referred for advanced diagnostic investigations. Coagulation abnormalities were detected in 20 patients (4%), pre-analytic errors being the most common reasons for these abnormalities, followed by immune thrombocytopenic purpura, Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia, VWF deficiency, factor VII, IX, and XIII deficiencies, Hypofibrinogenemia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Most of those patients were asymptomatic and had no prior history of bleeding, Therefore, coagulation secerning tests is vital preoperative to detect undiagnosed coagulation abnormalities and avoid bleeding and complications through operative.