Abstract
Purpose : The evaluation of the results of the comparison, between homologous blood transfusion and reinfusion of wound drainage blood, to patients with primary total knee replacement.
Materials and methods: A study on 44 consequent patients,who underwent to primary total knee replacement. Study group comprised 29 patients, employing a post operative autologous collection system and the control group 15 patients, using a standard drainage system.
The patiens of the control group transfused with homologous blood when it was needed.
The amount of drainage blood autotransfused in the study group was 633,15cm3 per patient, approximately. The preoperative haematocrit of this group was 39,24% average.
In the study group, 10/29 patients required two extra units of homologous blood per patient,where the preoperative haematocrit was 36,01% average. The control group, required 2,66 units of homologous blood per patient, wherees the preoperative haematocrit was 39,23% average.
Results : The haematocrit in the 3rd post operative days, to the group of autotransfusion, was 32,70% average, while to the group of homologous blood transfusion was 31,91%.
The temperature was approximately at the same levels to both groups of patients, post operatively, with a mean rate of 38,350C and it’s duration was two days post operatively, average.
There were no complications to both groups after the operation.
Conclusions: The system of reinfusion of unwashed shed whole blood is effective and safe as far as it concerns the decrease of the dangers from the homologous blood transfusion.
Moreover, the cost is cheaper comparing to the homologous transfusion, whereas it is the solution of choice, to the people who refuse the blood transfusion, due to religion reasons.
The abstracts were prepared by Eleni Koutsoukou. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Hellenic Association of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (HAOST), 20, A. Fleming str, 15123 Marousi, Athens, Greece.
