Extracorporeal hemolysis in orthopedic patients. Report of two cases

Two patients who had extracorporeal hemolysis of their blood transfusions are reported. In both cases, accidental overheating and hemolysis of the transfused blood caused a gross hemoglobinuria. Because the etiology of the hemolysis was not readily apparent at the time, both patients were managed as though they had had an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction. Because there was no activation of the complement cascade by antigen-antibody complexes, both patients suffered no ill effects. Differentiation of extracorporeal hemolysis from hemolytic transfusion reactions requires a careful inspection of all blood administration equipment, as well as an analysis of the untransfused blood in both bag and tubing. Patients undergoing orthopedic procedures account for 15% of all blood transfused in the United States. Awareness of adverse effects of transfusion is therefore important to orthopedic surgeons.