Two-year experience with cell salvage in total hip arthroplasty

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the cell salvage system in total hip arthroplasty surgeries and whether the cell salvage system can reduce the allogeneic blood transfusion requirement in total hip arthroplasty patients.

We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of patients who underwent hip arthroplasty surgeries between 2010 and 2012 in a university hospital. A total of 181 arthroplasty patients were enrolled in our study.

In the cell salvage group, the mean perioperative rate of allogeneic blood transfusion was significantly lower (92.53±111.88mL) than that in the control group (170.14±116.79mL; p<0.001). When the mean postoperative transfusion rates were compared, the cell salvage group had lower values (125.37±193.33mL) than the control group (152.22±208.37mL), although the difference was not statistically significant. The number of patients receiving allogeneic blood transfusion in the CS group (n=29; 43.2%) was also significantly lower than control group (n=56; 73.6%; p<0.05). In the logistic regression analysis, perioperative amount of transfusion, odds ratio (OR) -4.257 (95% CI -0.502 to 0.184) and operation time, OR: 2.720 (95% CI 0.001-0.004) were independent risk factors for the usage of cell salvage system.

Cell salvage is an effective strategy for reducing the need for allogeneic blood transfusion in the perioperative setting; it provides support to patient blood management interventions. Thus, we recommend the cell salvage system for use in total hip arthroplasty surgeries to reduce the need for allogeneic blood transfusion, if possible.