Correlation between hidden blood loss and nutritional status in elderly patients after total hip replacement

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Perioperative high hidden blood loss affects the recovery of joint function after total hip replacement.

To analyze the reliability of the Mini Nutritional Assessment on evaluating the nutritional status in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture on admission, and to investigate the effect of nutritional status variation on hidden blood loss after total hip replacement.

234 elderly patients with femoral neck fracture underwent total hip replacement. By using Mini Nutritional Assessment, patients were randomly divided into three groupswel-nourishment group (n=52), malnourishment at risk group (n=92), and malnourishment group (n=90). The results were used to analyze the correlation of Mini Nutritional Assessment and serological nutrition indicators, and to hidden blood loss. RESULTS AND

(1) Hidden blood loss101 patients suffered from high hidden blood loss. Hidden blood loss, its proportion to total blood loss and incidence of high hidden blood loss gradual y increased with the deterioration of the nutritional status (P<0.05). (2) Mini Nutritional AssessmentPre-operative Mini Nutritional Assessment score, and the incidence of hidden blood loss evaluated by albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, lymphocyte count, the percentage of lymphocytes and hemoglobin was significantly higher in patients with high hidden blood loss than those with low hidden blood loss (P<0.01). (3) Results of correlation

High hidden blood loss was positively correlated with pre-operative Mini Nutritional Assessment, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, the percentage of lymphocytes and hemoglobin (P<0.05). (4) These findings confirm that risk evaluation with Mini Nutritional Assessment is a reliable method to assess the nutritional status in elderly patients undergoing total hip replacement. Its combination with various serum nutrition indicators can determine high hidden blood loss and the prognosis.