Intraoperative surgical losses for a moderate-cholecystectomy are estimated at?

• A. 0-2 ml/kg/hr
• B. 2-4 ml/kg/hr
• C. 4-6 ml/kg/hr
• D. 6-8 ml/kg/hr

Answer: (B)

Estimating intraoperative blood loss as a rate per kilogram per hour helps gauge how actively a patient is bleeding and guides fluid management during surgery. In a moderate cholecystectomy, bleeding is typically due to venous oozing from the gallbladder bed and surrounding tissues rather than large arterial injury. This pattern falls into a moderate range of blood loss, which is typically around 2 to 4 ml per kg per hour.

For a 70 kg patient, that corresponds to roughly 140–280 ml of blood loss each hour, which is consistent with a straightforward procedure that isn’t causing major hemorrhage. Values lower than this would indicate minimal loss, while values higher would suggest more significant bleeding or complications requiring closer monitoring and possible intervention. Hence, the 2–4 ml/kg/hr range best fits a moderate cholecystectomy.