Blood loss in total hip replacement: extradural v. phenoperidine analgesia

The effects of phenoperidine and extradural analgesia on blood loss during and after total hip replacement were compared in 41 patients randomly divided into two statistically comparable groups. Mean blood loss in patients who received phenoperidine was 1065 +/- 316 ml and in patients who received extradural analgesia with 0.5% bupivacaine with adrenaline 1:200 000 it was 650 +/- 277 ml (p less than 0.001). There was no significant difference in postoperative blood loss between the two groups. The reduction in blood loss resulting from the extradural block may prove beneficial in decreasing the hazard and cost of blood transfusions and in facilitating autologous transfusion.