title: Blood loss management in high-risk patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty: a comparison of two techniques.
abstract: Although it is well known that patients with preoperative hemoglobin levels <13.0 g/dL are at a higher risk for requiring postoperative transfusions, the ideal blood management strategy for this group of patients remains unclear. This study compared preoperative autologous donation with preoperative administration of epoetin alfa as a method to maximize perioperative hemoglobin levels and minimize blood transfusions in these high-risk patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Results show that both preoperative autologous donation and epoetin alfa were successful in decreasing the need for allogeneic blood transfusions following TKA in high-risk patients. Epoetin alfa was more effective in maximizing perioperative hemoglobin levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Fred D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Cushner
authors.forename: Gwo-Chin
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Giles R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Scuderi
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Arsht
authors.forename: W Norman
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa