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Blood transfusion and septic complications after hip replacement surgery
E C Vamvakas1, S B Moore, M Cabanela
1Division of Transfusion Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Transfusion
|February 1, 1995
Summary
Allogeneic blood transfusions did not increase postoperative infection rates in total hip arthroplasty patients. This study found no association between allogeneic transfusions and septic complications in orthopedic surgery.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Transfusion Medicine
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Discrepancies exist regarding the association between allogeneic blood transfusions and postoperative infection rates in orthopedic surgery.
- Methodological issues in previous studies may contribute to conflicting findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential association between allogeneic blood transfusion and increased postoperative infection rates in orthopedic surgery.
- To address methodologic limitations in prior research on transfusion-related infection risks.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 420 elective total hip arthroplasties (1986-1993) in 367 patients.
- Comparison of infection rates between patients receiving allogeneic blood, autologous blood, or no blood transfusion.
- Study designed with sufficient statistical power to detect a 2.8-fold increased infection risk.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant association was found between allogeneic blood transfusion and postoperative infection (p = 0.226).
- Infection rates were 9.5% in transfused patients (n=201) versus 6.4% in non-transfused patients (n=219).
Conclusions:
- Allogeneic blood transfusion does not appear to elevate the incidence of post-operative septic complications in elective total hip arthroplasty.
- The study's statistical power supported the conclusion within its determined limits.