Cost effectiveness of blood substitution in elective orthopedic operations

Cost effectiveness was compared between substitution with autologous blood, implying no risk of transmission of diseases, and homologous blood, with a definite risk of transmission. Primary and revision hip arthroplasties were included in this study, as well as scoliosis operations. The risk of contracting chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) was included in the calculations of the long-term economic consequences of a transmittable disease. Our study showed that predonated blood alone, with a donation of up to four units, was the most suitable and cost-effective method for substitution of blood losses up to about 2.5-3 liters A combination of predonated blood and intraoperative autotransfusion was more suitable and less expensive for substituting blood losses of 2.5 liters or more. Homologous blood was the least cost-effective alternative considering the influence of non-A, non-B hepatitis.