Hematologic profile in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: perioperative and postoperative blood loss

Few studies have investigated the amount of blood loss during reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). The purpose of this study was to investigate blood loss in patients who underwent RTSA for massive irreparable rotator cuff tear (MIRCT) using the hemoglobin (Hb) balance method and total Hemovac amount and to identify predictors of blood transfusion in these patients.

We retrospectively reviewed 121 patients who underwent RTSA for MIRCT. The mean age was 71.2 ± 6.9 years, and 75 were women. Age, sex, body mass index, use of anticoagulants, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score, comorbidities (eg, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular accident), preoperative Hb level, preoperative hematocrit level, preoperative prothrombin time/international normalized ratio, use of cement, and operative time were evaluated as values predicting blood transfusion.

The overall blood loss was 846.6 ± 527.6 mL, which included 346 ± 231.2 mL of intraoperative blood loss and 500.3 ± 196.4 mL of postoperative blood loss. Values predicting blood transfusion were a lower preoperative Hb level (P < .001), hematocrit level (P < .001), hypertension (P = .018), and cerebrovascular accident (P = .008). Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified the following cutoff values for predicting transfusion: preoperative Hb level of 13.5 g/dL (90.3% sensitivity) and hematocrit of 40% (90.3% sensitivity).

RTSA for MIRCT is associated with blood loss during and after surgery. The amount of blood loss should be noted, and blood transfusion could be predicted by calculating the blood loss and predictive values. Lower preoperative Hb level, hematocrit, hypertension, and cerebrovascular accident are predictors of blood transfusion. Blood transfusion should be considered if a patient with preoperative Hb level <13.5 g/dL and hematocrit <40% has a history of hypertension or cerebrovascular accident.