ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Authors attempted to evaluate the efficacy of autotransfusion and analyzed the relationship between patient 's factors and need for postoperative allo-blood transfusion in total knee arthroplasty(TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 214 patients (Group A - unilateral TKA without autotransfusion, 103; Group B - unilateral TKA with autotransfusion, 111) was conducted. We tried to transfuse allogeneic blood to patients whose hemoglobin fell below 9g/dL or vital sign was unstable on postoperative day 1. The requirement of allogeneic blood for each group was compared and the relationship between patient 's factors and postoperative allo-transfusion was analyzed with multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Only 12.6% of patients in Group B required allogeneic blood transfusion compared with 23.3% in group A after TKA. Multivariate analysis identified significant predictive factors of the need for banked blood transfusion; preoperative hemoglobin levels and usage of autotransfusion instrument. CONCLUSION: Use of allogeneic blood replacement in the group using autotransfusion instrument decreased significantly compared with the group that did not use autotransfusion. The factors associated with reducing the need for postoperative blood transfusion were usage of autotransfusion instrument and high preoperative hemoglobin levels in TKA.