Reinfusion of blood salvage during and after orthopaedic operation

Objective To evaluate the results of intraoperative and postoperative autologous blood transfusion in orthopedic surgery. Methods Intraoperative blood salvage was reinfusioned in 117 patients by the AT－ 2000 Autologous Blood Recovery System. Among them, 29 received autologous drained blood after total hip arthroplasty by CBCⅡ ConstaVacTM. The volumes of reinfusion blood and complications were recorded. Results Among 117 patients, an average of 606.54 ml of autologous blood was transfused intraoperatively. The use of AT－ 2000 Autologous Blood Recovery System was directly responsible for a 41.61％ reduction in the total amount of homologous blood. In the 29 total hip arthroplasty, a mean of 425.17 ml of autologous blood was transfused after operation by CBCⅡ ConstaVacTM. Two patients experienced transient hemoglobinuria. Eight patients experienced transient febril reaction at the time of reinfusion postoperatively. No other complication appeared. Conclusion Reinfusion of blood salvage during and after orthopedic operation is safe and effective. It is able to reduce the amount of homologous blood transfusion.