This study was designed to determine whether the initial spun hematocr
it (HCT) value correlated with blood loss requiring operative interven
tion (OR), A spun HCT was performed on the first available blood sampl
e from 524 admitted patients 12 years of age or older with traumatic i
njuries (86% blunt, 14% penetrating), Patients in the OR (n = 66) grou
p had a lower mean HCT(35 v 41, P < .001) when compared with the non-O
R group. The 81 patients with an HCT of less than or equal to 35 requi
red OR more frequently (41% v 7%, P < .001), An HCT of less than or eq
ual to 35 had a sensitivity of 50%, specificity of 90%, positive predi
ctive value of 41%, and negative predictive value of 93% for identifyi
ng the OR group, The effect of hemodilution from intravenous fluid is
difficult to assess in a retrospective clinical study. Copyright (C) 1
998 by W.B. Saunders Company.