Which lab value is often monitored postoperatively to assess for bleeding?

Monitoring hemoglobin levels postoperatively is crucial for assessing a patient's status regarding bleeding. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body, and its levels can provide essential information about the amount of blood the patient has lost during surgery. A decrease in hemoglobin can indicate significant blood loss, suggesting the need for further evaluation and potential intervention, such as blood transfusion.

While platelets are important for blood clotting and can give information about a bleeding risk, they are not as directly indicative of ongoing blood loss as hemoglobin levels. White blood cells are typically monitored for infection rather than bleeding, and electrolytes are important for overall metabolic status but do not provide direct information about bleeding after surgery. Thus, hemoglobin is the most relevant lab value for assessing bleeding in the postoperative setting.