Does the suction drain diameter matter? Bleeding analysis after total knee replacement comparing different suction drain gauges.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate bleeding and the estimated blood loss in patients who underwent total knee replacement (TKR) with different closed suction drains (3.2-mm and 4.8-mm gauge).


METHODS
This was a randomized controlled trial with 22 patients who underwent TKR and were divided into two groups: Group I, with 11 patients in whom the 3.2-mm suction drain was used, and Group II, with 11 patients in whom the 4.8-mm suction drain was used. The hematocrit was measured after 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery in order to calculate the estimated blood loss. The drained volume was measured 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after TKR, and thereafter both groups were compared.


RESULTS
Regarding the hematocrit, there were no differences between groups in measured periods (24, 48, and 72 h after surgery). The total bleeding measured at the suction drains within 48 h was higher in Group II, with a statistically significant difference (p= 0.005); in the first 24 h, there was major bleeding in Group II (mean 893 mL), with a significant difference (p= 0.004). Between 24 and 48 h, there was no statistically significant difference in both groups (p= 0.710). The total estimated bleeding was higher in Group I, with mean of 463 mL,versus409 mL in Group II, with no statistical significance (p= 0.394).


CONCLUSIONS
Bleeding was higher in the group that used the 4.8 mm gauge suction drain, with no differences in hematocrit and estimated blood loss.
Fundação Hospital Adriano Jorge, Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
Marcos George de Souza
MG
Leao
Fundação Hospital Adriano Jorge, Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
Gladys Martins Pedroza
GM
Neta
Fundação Hospital Adriano Jorge, Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
Thiago Montenegro da
TM
Silva
Fundação Hospital Adriano Jorge, Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
Yacov Machado Costa
YM
Ferreira
Fundação Hospital Adriano Jorge, Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
Waryla Raissa Vasconcelos
WR
Dias
Arthroplasty/replacement/knee; Blood loss/surgical; Drainage