Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of non-invasive hemoglobin (SpHb) measurement on blood transfusion decisions in patients undergoing hip surgery and to analyze the effect of these decisions on mortality.
Materials and Methods: Fifty-two patients (ASA I–III, ≥60 years) undergoing hip surgery were randomized into the SpHb or conventional (CONV) group for transfusion management. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels were recorded before induction, at transfusion decision points, immediately after transfusion, and after recovery. Postoperative survival was monitored at 1 and 3 months.
Results: The SpHb group maintained significantly higher Hb levels at the first transfusion decision point, after transfusion, and during recovery (p=0.001, p=0.012, p=0.001). Partial oxygen pressure (PaO₂) was also higher in the SpHb group at the corresponding time points. The CONV group required significantly more blood transfusions (p=0.025) and had longer hospital stays (p=0.043). Although 3-month mortality was numerically lower in the SpHb group than in the CONV group (11.53% vs. 19.23%), no statistically significant difference was detected in this pilot-sized cohort (p>0.05).
Conclusion: According to our findings, SpHb monitoring during hip surgery may be a useful tool for enabling earlier transfusion decisions, which could help prevent significant Hb declines. In our study cohort, this strategy was associated with a trend toward fewer transfusion requirements, shorter hospital stays, and better perioperative oxygenation.