“How long for hemoglobin to return to normal range?”
I'm an active 85 year old male (still works a full-time job), post-op (near-total colectomy due to severe diverticulitis with multiple bleeds). The patient received 22 total units of PRBC - most of them pre-op. Patient was discharged to rehabilitation facility after 16 days post-op still anemic with hemoglobin of 7.4. Patient on iron supplements, Vitamins C, B21, and Folate. Nine days post-discharge hemoglobin was 7.9. Patient struggles with physical therapy due to lack of strength or stamina - likely due to anemia. Assuming no other complications or factors, approximately how long should it take this patient's hemoglobin to return to non-anemic (13+) levels?
Male | 85 years old
Complaint duration: 10 Days
Conditions: post near-total colectomy
1 Answer
It is difficult to predict. Assuming a linear correction, if it took about 10 days to recover 0.5 points, then I assume it'll take another 100 days or so to fully resolve with oral supplementation alone. That said, the reality is rarely that simple.
