[Transfusion strategy in programmed hemorrhagic orthopedic surgery]

Prospectively assess autologous blood transfusion for programmed orthopedic procedures.

From January 1 to December 31 1993, 307 patients underwent programmed orthopedic procedures: total hip replacement (n = 191), total knee replacement (n = 83) and osteotomy (n = 33). General (94%) or spinal anesthesia (6%) was used. The anesthesist explained transfusion techniques and patients gave informed consent for inclusion in an autologous transfusion protocol including differed autologous transfusion, intentional normovolemic hemodilution and intraoperative transfusion of shed blood.

A total of 269 autologous transfusion were performed among the 307 patients (87.6%). This was sufficient in 242 cases (78.8%) and in 65 (21.2%) homologous transfusion was required. Among the 269 patients given autologous transfusion, differed transfusion was used in 145 (53.9%), intentional normovolemic hemodilution in 124 (46%) and intraoperative transfusion of shed blood in 222 (82.5%). Among the patients given a differed autologous transfusion, 9 (6.2%) required a homologous transfusion and among the 40 patients in which all 3 techniques were used, only 2 (5%) received homologous blood, both due to secondary complications.

These findings show that when differed autologous transfusion is included in the transfusion strategy, less than 10% of the patients require homologous blood. In addition, when the 3 autologous transfusion techniques are used, the rate of homologous blood transfusion approaches zero.