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Done Orthopedic Surgery, Dropping Hemoglobin, No Internal Bleeding, Dark Urine. Reason?

My mom is 67 and was in a serious car crash. She had orthopedic surgery on her left leg to fix two breaks in the femur . Blood loss was 250cc. The day after surgery, hemoglobin dropped to 5.4 and 2 units of blood were transfused. Patient felt better and hgb went up to 8.2. The next day. It dropped down to 6.2 and 2 more units were transfused. CT scans were taken and no internal bleeding . Pts has excessive urination that is dark. hA1c is normal. Creatinine is normal. Pt is tachycardia and BP is stable. Pt is not vomiting blood. Pt is not Urinating blood. Why are the HgB levels dropping?
Mon, 19 Aug 2013
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,
Road traffic accidents cause profuse loss of blood.
The loss of blood in fracture of femur is even more profuse since it isa very vascular compartment.
Repeated blood transfusions may be required, however, there is nothing to worry.
The healing of the fracture site requires formation of blood clot and thereafter callus formation.
Dark colored urine is probably due to myoglobin in urine.
Crush injuries cause myoglobin from the muscles to be sequestered and is excreted in urine.
The excreted myoglobin in urine can be toxic to the kidney tubules.
However, creatinine levels are within normal limits indicating that kidneys are functioning normally and no damage has occurred.
Don't worry about fall in hemoglobin levels.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
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Done Orthopedic Surgery, Dropping Hemoglobin, No Internal Bleeding, Dark Urine. Reason?

Hello and welcome to HCM, Road traffic accidents cause profuse loss of blood. The loss of blood in fracture of femur is even more profuse since it isa very vascular compartment. Repeated blood transfusions may be required, however, there is nothing to worry. The healing of the fracture site requires formation of blood clot and thereafter callus formation. Dark colored urine is probably due to myoglobin in urine. Crush injuries cause myoglobin from the muscles to be sequestered and is excreted in urine. The excreted myoglobin in urine can be toxic to the kidney tubules. However, creatinine levels are within normal limits indicating that kidneys are functioning normally and no damage has occurred. Don t worry about fall in hemoglobin levels. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja P Wahal