Acute Blood Loss Anemia in the Octogenarian Total Knee Arthroplasty, Estimated Blood Loss and Transfusions Rates

Abstract

Acute blood loss anemia is an expected morbidity after a total knee replacement. The purpose of this study is to quantify the rates of blood transfusions in the octogenarian population after a total knee replacement and its association with the surgeon's estimated blood loss (EBL). This is a retrospective review of the senior orthopedic surgeon's charts. All patients were 80 years of age, or older at the time of surgical intervention. All patients with the diagnosis of primary osteoarthritis where included. A total 74 total knee arthroplasties were considered, in a total of 64 patients. Overall, 53% patients had an uneventful stay without a blood transfusion. The rates of transfusions increased with EBLs of 200, 250, and >250 ml with rates of 43%, 80%, and 55 % respectively. The average hematocrit of all patients that were transfused was 33.98, compared to 38.20 for the patients that were not transfused. 47% of patients required a blood transfusion during their hospital course regardless of the EBL estimated by the surgeon during surgery. The average hematocrit was found to be lower in the group that was transfused. Pubmed.