The impact of routine preoperative complete blood count (CBC) in elective operations in Srinagarind Hospital.

Because anemia and infectious diseases are still common, routine preoperative complete blood count (CBC) is often performed in most teaching hospitals in Thailand. However, there is growing consensus that it is of little benefit. We studied prospectively all patients who were scheduled for elective operation in Srinagarind Hospital. Medical history and physical examination were obtained prospectively without knowing the CBC result. Out of 1,013 patients interviewed, 955 were suitable for study, 384/955 (40.2%) of the CBC were abnormal. Significant anemia (hematocrit less than 30%) was found in 42 (4.4%), leukocytosis in 113 (11.8%), inadequate platelet in 3 (0.3%). The CBC abnormalities led to a change in management in 38 (4.0%). The clinical predictors of CBC abnormalities included weight loss, history of fever, presence of anemia and tender abdomen. In those with normal history and physical examination, the prevalence of anemia and CBC which led to management change was less than 1.7 per cent, regardless of age.

Vascular complications in noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen.

We prospectively conducted a hospital based study to determine the prevalence of vascular complications in NIDDM and their risk factors. Using standard protocol for interviewing, physical examination and laboratory investigations, we studied 207 patients from the diabetic clinic and medical outpatient department (ratio 3.9:1) by systematic sampling. The prevalence of hypertension, coronary heart disease cerebrovascular disease, peripheral and large vessel disease was 22.2, 22.2, 8.2, 21.3 and 34.8 per cent respectively. We found that the prevalence of small vessel disease, retinopathy and nephropathy was 34.3, 25.1 and 12.5 per cent respectively. The complications were slightly higher in females and increased with duration of diabetes. By univariate and logistic regression analysis, we found that the risk factors of large vessel disease were body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, duration of diabetes and for small vessel disease were duration of diabetes and high uric acid.