Background/Aim. Total knee replacement (TKR) surgery is one of the most
frequent and the most extensive procedures in orthopedic surgery, accompanied
with some serious complications. Perioperative blood loss is one of the most
serious losses, so it is vital to recognize and treat such losses properly.
Autologous blood transfusion is the only true alternative for the allogeneic
blood. The aim of this study was to to examine if autologous blood
transfusion reduces usage of allogenic blood in total knee replacement
surgery, as well as to examine possible effect of autologous blood
transfusion on postoperative complications, recovery and hospital stay of
patients after total knee replacement surgery. Methods. During the
controlled, prospective, randomised study we compared two groups of patients
(n = 112) with total prosthesis implanted in their knee. The group I
consisted of the patients who received the transfusion of other people?s
(allogeneic) blood (n = 57) and the group II of the patients whose blood was
collected postoperatively and then given them [their own (autologous) blood]
(n = 55). The transfusion trigger for both groups was hemoglobin level of 85
g/L. Results. In the group of patients whose blood was collected
perioperatively only 9 (0.9%) of the patients received transfusion of
allogeneic blood, as opposed to the control group in which 98.24% of the
patients received the transfusion of allogeneic blood (p ? 0.01). The
patients whose blood was collected stayed in hospital for 6.18 days, while
the patients of the control group stayed 7.67 days (p < 0.01). Conclusion.
Autologous blood transfusion is a very effective method for reducing
consumption of allogenic blood and thus, indirectly for reducing all
complications related to allogenic blood transfusion. There is also a
positive influence on postoperative recovery after total knee replacement
surgery due to the reduction of hospital stay, and indirectly on the
reduction of hospital costs.
An economic justification for autologous blood re-infusion in primary total knee replacement surgery
