Is blood transfusion compulsory in total hip replacement ?

C. Rusan¹, I.Acalovschi², D.Lucaciu³, I.Hopulele³, S.Hopulele3
1) Clinica de Ortopedie şi Traumatologie. 2) Catedra A.T.I. 3) Catedra Ortopedie şi Traumatologie, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie, Cluj-Napoca

Abstract

Total hip replacement is accompanied by significant blood loss, both during and after surgery. Although blood transfusion is considered a standard of care in total hip replacement, the increasing number of patients who reject it, mostly on religious grounds, requires a revision of blood transfusion policies. The results of prosthetic hip replacement, without blood transfusion, in 20 patients is presented. We compared the hemato- logic effects and the intra and postoperative morbidity with a similar group of 20 patients who received 2 units of blood on average, during and after surgery. Although, the patients who rejected transfusion had significantly lower haemoglobine levels at 24 h, 5 days and 10 days postoperatively, no perioperative deaths or serious complications were recorded. Average postoperative duration of hospitalisation was similar in both groups. We conclude that hip replacement surgery should not be abstained by those patients who reject transfusion.

Key words: total hip replacement, blood transfusion

Administrarea de sânge, inevitabilă în artroplastia totală de şold ?

Jurnalul Român de Anestezie Terapie intensivă 2005 Vol.12 Nr.1, 27-31