Comparative study between thromboembolism and total knee arthroplasty with or without tourniquet in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
BACKGROUND
To investigate whether the occurrence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and/or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are influenced by use of a tourniquet or not in the patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
The patients were randomly divided into a with-tourniquet group (19 patients) and a without-tourniquet group (18 patients). In the first group, snowstorm-like echogenic particles were observed after deflation of the tourniquet in all patients according to the transesophageal echocardiography.


RESULTS
In addition, the PaO(2) level was significantly decreased. Also, one had a PE, and DVT was confirmed in two patients. In the without-tourniquet group, none of these conditions was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the use of a tourniquet will promote the risk of developing postoperative PE and/or DVT after total knee arthroplasty.
Wauke
Koichi
K
Department of Joint Disease and Rheumatism, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan.
Nagashima
Masakazu
M
Kato
Nobuya
N
Ogawa
Ryo
R
Yoshino
Shinichi
S
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology*; D014111:Tourniquets / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*