title: Comparison of cardiopulmonary complication rates in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty and reinfusion of shed blood.
abstract: BACKGROUND, SIGNIFICANCE, AND PURPOSE: Nurses noted a trend in increasing cardiopulmonary complications postoperatively in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) who had received reinfused shed blood. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare cardiopulmonary complications in TKA patients admitted to the Joint Replacement Center in a rural community hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective research was conducted to compare outcomes in 242 patients (Group 1 = patients reinfused with shed blood [n = 78]; Group 2 = patients not reinfused [n = 164]). Data were analyzed using Premier's Quality Advisor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed a statistically significant difference in cardiopulmonary complication rates between the two groups. Group 1 had a greater rate than Group 2 for cardiac complications (Group 1 = 6.4%; Group 2 = 1.8%), pulmonary embolisms (Group 1 = 5.1%; Group 2 = 1.2%), and other pulmonary complications (Group 1 = 3.8%; Group 2 = 1.2%). Transfusions were administered to more Group 1 patients (52%) than Group 2 (27%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiopulmonary complication rates were significantly higher in patients using the reinfusion device. As a result of this study, the standard of practice for the care of postoperative TKA patients has changed and the reinfusion device is no longer utilized.
authors.affiliation: Joint Replacement Center, Easton, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hanlon
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Punzo
authors.forename: Ruth Ann
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Karen Gabel
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Speroni
mesh_terms: D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies