title: The effect of postoperative wound drainage reinfusion in reducing the need for blood transfusions in elective total joint arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized study.
abstract: A prospective, randomized study was conducted in 24 patients using the Solcotrans Orthopaedic Drainage Reinfusion System (Smith & Nephew Richards Inc, Memphis, Tenn) for postoperative blood salvage in total joint arthroplasty. The amount of postoperative autologous blood salvage averaged 946 mL. Only 25% of the study group required postoperative transfusions, compared to 83% of the control group (P = .016). In total knee arthroplasties, only 11% of the study group required transfusions, compared to 78% of the control group (P = .018). There were no transfusion reactions, infectious complications, or coagulopathies. Postoperative blood salvage is a safe, reliable, and effective source of autologous blood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Tex.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bucknell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies