Anticoagulant use and its effect on bleeding and complications in total knee arthroplasty.
Currently, there is very limited literature on the effect of long-term anticoagulants on total knee arthroplasty. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the effect of warfarin and clopidogrel on the transfusion rate, intra-operative blood loss, and postoperative blood loss for total knee arthroplasty. The secondary purpose was to determine their effect on post operative wound complications and length of stay. Data was collected retrospectively from medical charts between 2003-2008 and case matched to a control group. The patients on warfarin had a higher rate of blood transfusion, blood loss, and length of hospital stay compared to the clopidogrel and control groups.
Department of Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery, Adelaide and Meath National Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. ingasps@hotmail.com
Ingrid
I
Radovanovic
Joseph
J
Queally
Syah
S
Bahari
James
J
Sproule
John
J
McElwain
D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine