Autologous re-transfusion drain compared with no drain in total knee arthroplasty: a randomised controlled trial

Background. Post-operative anaemia following total knee arthroplasty is reported to impede functional mobility in the early period following surgery, whereas allogeneic blood transfusions, used to correct low post-operative haemoglobin levels, have concomitant disadvantages. The use of a post-operative autologous blood re-transfusion drainage system as well as no drainage system following total knee arthroplasty have been shown to reduce pen-operative blood loss and allogeneic blood transfusions, compared to the regularly used closed-suction drains. No randomised studies have been performed, to the best of our knowledge, that indicate the superiority of either method. Materials and methods. An open, randomised controlled study was conducted in 115 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty who were randomly allocated to an autotransfusion drain or no drainage system. The primary end-point was haemoglobin level on the first post-operative day. Results. In the autotransfusion group 515 mL (0-1,500 mL) of drained blood was re-transfused within the first 6 hours after surgery. Haemoglobin levels on the first (11.6 vs 11.0 g/dL), second (11.0 vs 10.3 g/dL) and third (10.5 vs 9.8 g/dL) days after surgery were significantly higher in the autotransfusion group. Total pen-operative net blood loss (1,576 mL vs 1,837 mL; P=0.03) and allogeneic transfusion rates (10.2% vs 19.6%; P=0.15) were lower in the autotransfusion group. There were no differences in pain scores, range of motion or adverse events during hospital stay and the first 3 months after surgery. Discussion. Compared with no drainage, the use of a post-operative autologous blood re-transfusion drainage system following total knee arthroplasty results in higher post-operative haemoglobin levels and less total blood loss

Favourable results of a new intraoperative and postoperative filtered autologous blood re-transfusion system in total hip arthroplasty:A randomised controlled trial

A new intraoperative filtered salvaged blood re-transfusion system has been developed for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) that filters and re-transfuses the blood that is lost during THA. This system is intended to increase postoperative haemoglobin (Hb) levels, reduce perioperative net blood loss and reduce the need for allogeneic transfusions. It supposedly does not have the disadvantages of intraoperative cell-washing/separating re-transfusion systems, such as extensive procedure, high costs and need for specialised personnel. To re-transfuse as much as blood as possible, postoperatively drained blood was also re-transfused. A randomised, controlled, blinded, single-centre trial was conducted in which 118 THA patients were randomised to an intraoperative autologous blood re-transfusion (ABT) filter system combined with a postoperative ABT filter unit or high-vacuum closed-suction drainage. On average, 577 ml of blood was re-transfused in the ABT group: 323 ml collected intraoperatively and 254 ml collected postoperatively. Hb level was higher in the ABT vs the high-vacuum drainage group: 11.4 vs. 10.8 g/dl, p = 0.02 on day one (primary endpoint) and 11.0 vs. 10.4 g/dl, p = 0.007 on day three. Total blood loss was less in the autotransfusion group: 1472 vs. 1678 ml, p = 0.03. Allogeneic transfusions were needed in 3.6 % of patients in the ABT group and 6.5 % in the drainage group, p = 0.68. The use of a new intraoperative ABT filter system combined with a postoperative ABT unit resulted in higher postoperative Hb levels and less total blood loss compared with a high-vacuum drain following THA