The perioperative management of patients with polycythaemia

The types of polycythaemia are reviewed and evidence presented indicating the need for reduction of the packed cell volume in polycythaemic patients before operation. Such patients must also be offered a full regimen of perioperative antithrombosis therapy, the only possible exception being in cases of primary polycythaemia with a bleeding tendency. Either heparin or dextran should be given intravenously and pulsating boots or elastic stockings placed on the patient's legs. An indication is given of the evidence pointing towards mild anaemia, by British standards, being the optimum state for circulatory efficiency and ways of producing this in the polycythaemic patient are described.