An Autotransfusion Device Reduces the Amount of Allogenic Transfusion in Bilateral Sequential Total Knee Arthroplasty

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study examined the difference in the reduction of the amount of required allogenic transfusion after bilateral total knee arthroplasty when an autotransfusion device was used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were ninety five patients who underwent sequential bilateral total knee arthroplasty from January 2006 to May 2010 by one surgeon. The first group was 50 patients who did not have an autotransfusion device used and second group of 45 patients were those who had an autotransfusion device used during the postoperative period. Group 1 received allogenic blood transfusion with a standard level of postoperative hemoglobin. The group 2 patients were reinfused with as much blood as was collected by an autotransfusion suction bag and then they received allogenic blood transfusion with a standard level of postoperative hemoglobin. RESULTS: The total blood loss and amount of blood transfusion were almost the same in the two groups. The mean amount of allotransfusion was 1,270.0 mL in group 1 and 564.4 mL in group 2 and the reduced amount of allotransfusion in group 2 was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Using an autotransfusion device is a good method to reduce the mean amount of allotransfusion after bilateral sequential total knee arthroplasty.