[The factors that influence intraoperative blood loss during total hip replacement]

Fifty cases of total hip replacement performed by one surgeon were reviewed to compare the effects of epidural and general anesthesia. The blood pressure in patients under epidural anesthesia was significantly lower (P less than 0.001; t-test). There was a highly significant correlation between the operation time and the intraoperative blood loss (P less than 0.005, r = 0.67). A significant correlation was noted between the blood pressure and the minute loss of blood (P less than 0.01, r = 0.43). It is concluded that epidural anesthesia is to be recommended rather than general anesthesia in patients undergoing total hip replacement.