Changes in iron metabolism following surgery.

Studies of iron metabolism were made in 24 patients following surgery under general anaesthesia. No postoperative complications occurred. There was a marked fall in serum iron in all patients on the first postoperative day (P less than 0.001) which remained significantly depressed even at the seventh postoperative day. The total iron binding capacity fell progressively to reach the lowest levels on the third postoperative day, returning to normal levels by the end of the study. Serum ferritin concentration rose significantly in a reciprocal pattern to the changes in serum iron. This study highlights the limitation of iron studies in peripheral blood in postoperative patients.