title: Total hip replacement surgery does not influence RBC survival.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  RBC survival may be affected by mechanical or oxidative stress as well as the inflammatory effect of surgery, and thus may contribute to postoperative anemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  RBC survival was studied in otherwise healthy patients who underwent total hip replacement (THR). RBCs of five patients scheduled for elective THR surgery were labeled with (51)Cr 2 weeks before the surgical procedure. The disappearance of (51)Cr-labeled RBCs was calculated for the preoperative period and for the period from postoperative Day 4 on, when blood loss had ceased.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The half-life of (51)Cr-labeled RBCs did not change if estimated before (29.0 +/- 4.4 days) and after (27.4 +/- 3.6 days, p = 0.55) surgery. This indicates that the lifespan of RBCs is not influenced by the surgical procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A decrease in RBC survival does not contribute to the pathogenesis of the anemia found after THR surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Eemland Hospital, Amersfoort, the Netherlands. iperen@hemh.azr.nl
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: van Iperen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van de Wiel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Bruin
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Marx
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D004905:Erythrocyte Aging / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes