Total knee arthroplasty has been associated with substantial blood loss in the perioperative period necessitating a substantial risk for blood transfusions. There are various methodologies utilized to decrease postoperative anemia and minimize the need for allogeneic blood transfusions. These include autologous pre-donation, the use of erythropoietin and the use of perioperative cell salvage. Although all of these are successful in decreasing postoperative anemia, there is still a significant risk of allogeneic blood transfusions in the postoperative period. This is a retrospective review of a consecutive series of total knee replacements investigating blood loss and the need for postoperative blood transfusions utilizing MIS surgical techniques and Symphony (tm) platelet gel as the sole means of blood conservation. PATIENT DEMOGRPAHICS. Between January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005, 83 total knee arthroplasties were performed in a variety of community hospitals by a single orthopedic surgeon. The mean age was 64 years (SD 11.6, range 28-90) and the mean BMI was 34.1 (SD 7.6, range 21.3 to 53.4). 71% of the patients were females and 29% males. All patients, regardless of deformity, age or size, had a quad sparing MIS total knee arthroplasty performed utilizing cemented posterior stabilized components and all patellae were resurfaced. No patients pre-donated any blood products or had erythropoietin and no drains were utilized postoperatively. All patients had application of Symphony (tm) platelet gel prior to the interoperative release of the tourniquet. All patients received Coumadin on the day of surgery and were managed for four weeks postoperatively to keep their INR approximately 2.0. RESULTS. The mean preoperative hemoglobin was 14 (SD 1.2, range 10.7 to 16.6). The average postoperative hemoglobin was 10.0 (SD 1.1, range 8.0 to 14.2). The average drop in hemoglobin was 4.0 with a SD of 1.1. A total of two patients were transfused in this series of 83 patients for a total transfusion rate of 2.4%. The average length of stay was 3.4 days with the SD of 3.7. No patients suffered a CVA, myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolus in the two-month postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS. The results show that even utilizing MIS surgical techniques and Symphony (tm) platelet gel, there is still substantial blood loss in patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty utilizing cemented components with a mean drop of hemoglobin of four grams or 20% of their mean preoperative hemoglobin. However, in spite of significant loss of hemoglobin, most patients tolerated the postoperative anemia very well and there were no complications in this series related to anemia and this did not prolong their length of stay, which was an average of 3.4 days. Only a very low percentage of patient's in this series required a postoperative transfusion (2.4%). This report supports the continued use of MIS surgical techniques along with Symphony (tm) platelet gel to minimize the need for postoperative transfusions in total knee arthroplasties

Introduction. Hip arthroplasty is one of the most common procedures performed every year however complications do occur. Prior studies have examined the impact of insurance status on complications after TJA in small or focused cohorts. The purpose of our study was to utilize a large all-payer inpatient healthcare database to evaluate the effect of patient insurance status on complications following hip arthroplasty. Methods. Data was obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2004 and 2011. Analysis included patients undergoing hip arthroplasty procedures determined by ICD-9 procedure codes. Patient demographics and comorbidities were analyzed and stratified by insurance type. The primary outcome was medical complications, surgical complications and mortality during the same hospitalization. A secondary analysis was performed using a matched cohort comparing patients with Medicare vs private insurance using the coarsened exact matching algorithm. Pearson's chi-squared test and multivariate regression were performed. Results. Overall, 1,011,184 (64.8% Medicare, 29.3% private insurance, 3.7% Medicaid or uninsured, 2.0% Other) patients fulfilled criteria for inclusion into the study. Most were primary total hip arthroplasties (64.2%) and primary hip hemiarthroplasty (29.8%), with 6% revision hip arthroplasties. Multivariate regression analysis showed that patients with private insurance had fewer complications (OR 0.8, p=<0.001) and those with Medicaid or no insurance had more medical complications (OR 1.06, p=0.005) compared to Medicare patients. Similar trends were found for surgical complications and mortality. The matched cohort showed Medicare and private insurance patients had similar complication rates. The most common complication was postoperative anemia, occurring in 22.6% of Medicare patients and 21.1% of patients with private insurance (RR=1.06, p<0.001). Discussion and. Conclusion. This data reveals that patients with Medicare, Medicaid or no insurance have higher risk of medical complications, surgical complications and mortality following hip arthroplasty. Using a matched cohort to directly compare Medicare and private insurance patients, the risk of postoperative complications are similar and generally low with the notable exception of the most common complication, postoperative anemia, which occurs more frequently in patients with Medicare

Perioperative blood conservation remains an important topic today in order to reduce complications, improve function, and facilitate recovery after a total knee replacement (TKR). Studies have shown that the degree of postoperative anemia is related to an increase in complications. A greater blood loss and need for transfusion is associated with a higher risk of infection, a slower recovery process, increased morbidity to patients, as well as an increased cost to the health care system. Typical blood loss estimates range from 800cc to over 1700cc, when accounting not only for intraoperative but postoperative blood loss. Several strategies have been developed to help mitigate the risk of perioperative blood loss and need for subsequent transfusion. Firstly, preoperative measures such as vitamin and mineral supplementation can ensure the starting hemoglobin and red cell count are maximised. Additionally, erythropoietin can be helpful in refractory cases of preoperative anemia. Preoperative autologous blood donation was used extensively in the past, but has fallen out of favor due to its inefficiency and cost. Intraoperatively, measures such as the use of a tourniquet, meticulous technique, and expeditious surgery can help reduce blood loss. The most effective method, however, has been the use of tranexamic acid (TXA). TXA, an antifibrinolytic compound, has been extremely effective at reducing perioperative blood loss without increasing the risk of thromboembolic events. TXA can be used topically or intravenously. Other methods that can reduce intraoperative blood loss include the use of fibrin sealants, applied to the soft tissues and bony surfaces around the knee. Postoperatively, the avoidance of wound drains is associated with a higher blood count and reduced transfusion risk. Alternatively, drainage reinfusion systems can be used to raise the postoperative blood count, particularly in cases of bilateral TKR

Perioperative blood conservation remains an important topic today in order to reduce complications, improve function, and facilitate recovery after a total knee replacement (TKR). Studies have shown that the degree of postoperative anemia is related to an increase in complications. A greater blood loss and need for transfusion is associated with a higher risk of infection, a slower recovery process, increased morbidity to patients, as well as an increased cost to the healthcare system. Typical blood loss estimates range from 800cc to over 1700cc, when accounting not only for intraoperative but postoperative blood loss. Several strategies have been developed to help mitigate the risk of perioperative blood loss and need for subsequent transfusion. Firstly, preoperative measures such as vitamin and mineral supplementation can ensure the starting hemoglobin and red cell count are maximised. Additionally, erythropoietin can be helpful in refractory cases of preoperative anemia. Preoperative autologous blood donation was used extensively in the past, but has fallen out of favor due to its inefficiency and cost. Intraoperatively, measures such as the use of a tourniquet, meticulous technique, and expeditious surgery can help reduce blood loss. The most effective method, however, has been the use of tranexamic acid (TXA). TXA, an antifibrinolytic compound, has been extremely effective at reducing perioperative blood loss without increasing the risk of thromboembolic events. TXA can be used topically or intravenously. Other methods that can reduce intraoperative blood loss include the use of fibrin sealants, applied to the soft tissues and bony surfaces around the knee. Postoperatively, the avoidance of wound drains is associated with a higher blood count and reduced transfusion risk. Alternatively, drainage reinfusion systems can be used to raise the postoperative blood count, particularly in cases of bilateral TKR

Introduction. Knee arthroplasty is one of the most common inpatient surgeries procedures performed every year however complications do occur. Prior studies have examined the impact of insurance status on complications after TJA in small or focused cohorts. The purpose of our study was to utilize a large all-payer inpatient healthcare database to evaluate the effect of patient insurance status on complications following knee arthroplasty. Methods. Data was obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2004 and 2011. Analysis included patients undergoing knee arthroplasty procedures determined by ICD-9 procedure codes. Patient demographics and comorbidities were analyzed and stratified by insurance type. The primary outcome was medical complications, surgical complications and mortality during the same hospitalization. A secondary analysis was performed using a matched cohort comparing patients with Medicare vs private insurance using the coarsened exact matching algorithm. Pearson's chi-squared test and multivariate regression were performed. Results. Overall, 1,352,505 (57.8% Medicare, 35.6% private insurance, 2.6% Medicaid or uninsured, 3.3% Other) patients fulfilled criteria for inclusion into the study. Most were primary total knee arthroplasties (96.1%) with 3.9% revision knee arthroplasties. Multivariate regression analysis showed that patients with private insurance had fewer complications (OR 0.82, p=<0.001) compared to Medicare patients. Similar trends were found for surgical complications and mortality. Patients with Medicare or no insurance had more surgical complications but equivalent rates of medical complications and mortality. The matched cohort showed Medicare and private insurance patients had overall low mortality rates and complication. The most common complication was postoperative anemia, occurring in 16.2% of Medicare patients and 15.3% of patients with private insurance (RR=1.06, p<0.001). Mortality (RR 1.34), wound dehiscence (RR 1.32), CNS, GI complications, although rare, were all statistically more common in Medicare patients (p<0.05) while cardiac complications (RR 0.93, p=0.003) was more common in patients with private insurance. Discussion and Conclusion. This data reveals that patients with Medicare insurance have higher risk of medical complications, surgical complications and mortality following knee arthroplasty. Using a matched cohort to directly compare Medicare and private insurance patients, the risk of postoperative complications were low overall (with the exception of postoperative anemia), but in general were more common in Medicare patients

Background. One-stage bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) is twice as invasive as unilateral THA. Therefore, increases in bleeding, postoperative anemia, and complications are a concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate hemoglobin values and the use of autologous and allogenic blood transfusion after one-stage bilateral THA. Methods. Twenty-nine patients (7 men and 22 women; 58 hips) were treated with one-stage bilateral THA. The mean age of subjects at the time of surgery was 60.6 years. The average body mass index for patients was 21.7 kg/m. 2. The diagnoses were secondary osteoarthritis due to developmental dysplasia of the hip (n=25) and avascular necrosis (n=4). All patients had donated 800 ml of autologous blood in 2 stages preoperatively (1 to 4 weeks apart). All patients took iron supplements starting from 5 weeks preoperatively. For all patients, the procedure was performed under general anesthesia in the lateral decubitus position via a posterolateral approach. Intra-operative blood salvage was not used. Suction drains were inserted subfascially. As a general rule, pre-donated autologous blood was transfused back to the patients intra- or post-operatively. Allogenic blood transfusion was performed when clinical symptoms of anemia occurred (hypotension, low urinary output, tachycardia, etc.) rather than using a preset blood threshold (hemoglobin level <8 g/dl). To determine changes in blood pressure following surgery until the next morning, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured at 3-hr intervals. Results. The mean duration of surgery was 67.4 min for the procedure on the side that was operated on first, 32.7 min to change to the other side, and 68.4 min for the procedure on the other side. The mean blood loss was 576.1 ml. Hemoglobin values at baseline, at the time of autologous blood donation, and on the first day after surgery were 13.2, 12.7, and 8.7 g/dl respectively. Hemoglobin values were significantly different between the 2 weeks before surgery and the first day after surgery. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were the lowest 3–6 hrs postoperatively (mean, 86/55). Blood reinfusion using autologous blood was performed for all patients. The allogenic blood transfusion rate was 25.0% (range, 2–8 units). In terms of complications, one patient developed an arrhythmia on postoperative day 5. This was the patient for whom autologous blood donation could not be performed due to pre-existing anemia. This patient also had right-sided sciatic nerve palsy. Discussion. With respect to one-stage bilateral THA, Gie showed that allogenic blood transfusion rate with or without autologous blood donation was 42% and 87% respectively. The allogenic blood transfusion rate was 25.0% in our study. Establishing a procedure to perform surgery in a shorter time period may further reduce the rate of allogenic blood transfusion. Although not used herein, intraoperative blood salvage may also be considered. Conclusions. In one-stage bilateral THA, autologous blood donation is effective in managing perioperative anemia and reducing the rate of allogenic blood transfusion. Perioperative blood management based on individual patients' situations are important for the safe performance of one-stage bilateral THA