Comparison between 1-hour and 24-hour drain clamping using diluted epinephrine solution after total knee arthroplasty.
A prospective study was conducted to determine the optimal clamping time in the drain-clamping method after total knee arthroplasty. In a randomized trial, 44 primary total knee arthroplasties were studied after the drain-clamping method using diluted epinephrine solution was applied for 1 hour or 24 hours. The mean blood loss into the drains was less in the 24-hour group compared with the 1-hour group (35 mL in the 24-hour group and 247 mL in the 1-hour group). No statistically significant difference was found in hemoglobin or hematocrit levels between the 2 groups after surgery. Only 1 patient (4.5%) in the 1-hour group and 2 patients (9.1%) in the 24-hour group received blood transfusion. There were significantly more complications in the 24-hour group (P <.05). Two patients (9.1%) in this group required additional surgery. One-hour clamping is preferable to 24-hour clamping in the drain-clamping method for minimizing complications.
Yamada
K
K
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Komaki City Hospital, Aichi, Japan.
Imaizumi
T
T
Uemura
M
M
Takada
N
N
Kim
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003250:Constriction; D004837:Epinephrine; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004837:Epinephrine