Does tourniquet use decrease blood loss following primary total knee arthroplasty in Jehovah's Witness patients?

A secure blood-saving protocol for Jehovah's Witnesses in primary total hip replacement

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to analyze the efficacy of the blood management protocol developed by our team for patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) presenting for primary total hip replacement (THR).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty JW patients (6 males, 24 females; mean age: 70.1±9.8 years; range, 65 to 81 years) and 30 age- and sex-matched controls (6 males, 24 females; mean age: 68.7±9.1 years; range, 62 to 79 years) who underwent primary THR at our institution between January 2018 and June 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. While the surgical technique of THR was not different among the groups, blood loss management differed between the groups. Patients in the control group were given 1 g of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) 15 min before the surgical incision. In addition to the same TXA protocol, intraoperative cell salvage with a continuous autologous transfusion system was used for JW patients. The estimated blood loss (EBL) was determined using Meunier's formula. Hemoglobin (Hgb) decline, EBL on the first and third postoperative days, allogenic blood transfusion (ABT) requirement, and complications were analyzed between groups.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between groups regarding demographic and clinical characteristics (p>0.05), ABT requirement (p>0.999), and Hgb decline in the first and third postoperative days (p=0.540 and p=0.836, respectively). Furthermore, both groups did not significantly differ between EBL in the first and third postoperative days (p=0.396 and p=0.616, respectively) and the length of hospital stay (p=0.547). Similar complication rates were noted for both groups. Hemoglobin level assessments revealed that values on the first and third postoperative days were significantly lower than the baseline Hgb value in both cohorts (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

A combination of intravenous administration of 1 g of TXA, meticulous hemostasis, and intraoperative use of cell saver constitutes a reasonable strategy for achieving the goal of transfusion-free primary THR with predictable levels of blood loss that are similar to non-JW patients.

Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin combined with iron sucrose on postoperative hemoglobin in patients undergoing artificial joint replacement

With the aging of the population, an increasing number of elderly patients are opting for artificial joint replacement, leading to the exploration of various rapid rehabilitation programs in the perioperative period. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of combining recombinant human erythropoietin and iron sucrose in altering the range and trend of postoperative hemoglobin in patients undergoing arthroplasty. Specifically, we will examine whether this combination can effectively alter the rise and fall of postoperative haemoglobin, identify the inflection point of haemoglobin change or recovery after arthroplasty, and assess the effect of treatment on serum iron in postoperative blood. We conducted a retrospective study of 138 patients who underwent unilateral total joint arthroplasty by the same surgeon in the same hospital before July 2022. The results of this study may provide valuable insights for the development of effective rehabilitation programs for patients undergoing arthroplasty.

Blood transfusion and venous thromboembolism trends and risk factors in primary and aseptic revision total hip and knee arthroplasties: A nationwide investigation of 736,061 cases

BACKGROUND

Over the last years, new transfusion guidelines and pharmaceuticals have been introduced in primary and revision total hip and knee arthroplasty (P-THA, P-TKA, R-THA, R-TKA). In the US, a substantial decrease in transfusions has been observed in recent years. Little data exists on the subject in Europe. In this context we aimed to analyze: (1) Is there also a significant decrease in blood transfusion for these procedures in Germany? (2) Which patient and hospital related factors are associated with the risk of blood transfusion? (3) Is there a trend in complications, especially venous thromboembolism and stroke events that can be linked to tranexamic acid use?

HYPOTHESIS

There is a significant trend in decreasing blood transfusions in hip and knee arthroplasty.

METHODS

Using nationwide healthcare insurance data for inpatient hospital treatment, 736,061 cases treated between January 2011 and December 2017 were included (318,997 P-THAs, 43,780 R-THAs, 338,641 P-TKAs, 34,643 R-TKAs). Multivariable logistic regression was used to model the odds of transfusion as a function of the year of surgery. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

In each cohort the odds of transfusion decreased over time (2017 vs. 2011 (reference): P-THA: OR 0.42 (95%CI: 0.39-0.45), P-TKA: OR 0.41 (95%CI: 0.37-0.46), R-THA: OR 0.52 (95%CI: 0.47-0.58), R-TKA: OR 0.53 (95%CI: 0.46-0.61). Patient-related risk factors for blood transfusion included older age, female gender, lower Body Mass Index, comorbidities such as renal failure, cardiac arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, valvular disease, coagulopathy, depression, and antithrombotic medication prior to surgery. Venous thromboembolism or stroke events did not increase over the study period.

DISCUSSION

The incidence of blood transfusions in primary and revision TKA and THA decreased over the study period. This may be due to new transfusion guidelines and the introduction of novel pharmaceuticals such as tranexamic acid. A further improved patient blood management and a focus on vulnerable patient groups might lead to a further future reduction of transfusions, especially in R-THA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III; comparative observational study.

A randomized comparative evaluation of local infiltration analgesia, extended nerve blocks, and conventional analgesia in pain management after total knee arthroplasty

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to analyze the postoperative effects of extended nerve blocks and local infiltration analgesia (LIA) on postoperative pain control, muscle weakness, and blood loss after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between February 24^th 2020 and July 10^th 2020, a total of 161 patients (55 males, 106 females; median age: 69.0 years [IQR 63.0-75.0], range, 41 to 81 years) who underwent primary TKA were randomly allocated into three parallel groups according to their concomitant procedure in a double-blind fashion: (i) those to whom nerve blockade was performed after competition of surgery under the duration of spinal anesthesia (n=50); (ii) those to whom LIA was performed during surgery (n=52), and (iii) control group (n=59). The content of LIA was 10-10 mL of 20 mg lidocaine with 0.01 mg adrenalin and 100 mg ropivacaine, 1 mL (30 mg) ketorolac, and 5 mL (500 mg) tranexamic acid was diluted by 50 mL 0.9% NaCl under aseptic conditions. Outcome parameters were the evaluation of pain until the evening of first postoperative day (24 to 36 h), mobilization, and blood loss within the first three postoperative days.

RESULTS

The pain was maximal between 4 and 8 h postoperatively, when the effect of the spinal anesthetic drugs disappeared. During this critical period, tolerable pain (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS ≤3) was observed in 52%, 42%, and 19% of nerve blockade in LIA and control groups, respectively. None of the patients complained of high-intensity pain (NRS >8) in the LIA group, which was a significant difference from the block and control groups (10% and 14%, p<0.008, respectively). There was no significant muscle weakness associated with the use of this extended block. The decrease in hemoglobin level was significantly lower in the LIA group than in the control and block groups (odds ratio [OR]: 0.379, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.165-0.874 for nerve blockade vs. LIA, OR: 1.189, 95% CI: 0.491-2.880 for nerve blockade vs. control, OR: 0.319, 95% CI: 0.140-0.727, respectively). The common language effect size for pain in each referred interval in each group and for decrease of hemoglobin between the first and third postoperative days fell between 0.507 and 0.680.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that LIA technique offers a fast and safe treatment option for pain relief after TKA. No clinically relevant muscle weakness was observed among groups according to field block applications. Significant advantages were also achieved in blood loss.

Blood transfusion and alternatives in Jehovah's Witness patients

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

More than 8.5 million people in the world observe the Jehovah's Witness faith, and require unique consideration for perioperative blood management as they generally refuse transfusion of blood and blood products. This review addresses a collaborative approach to each patient throughout the perioperative arena. The principles of this approach include optimization of hemoglobin levels preoperatively, attention to blood-salvaging methods intraoperatively, and minimization of blood draws postoperatively. In addition, we review the technologies currently in development as transfusion alternatives, including hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers.

RECENT FINDINGS

Progress has been made recently in the field of synthetic blood alternatives and hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, which may lead to improved outcomes in this patient population.

SUMMARY

Utilization of multiple prevention and mitigation strategies to optimize oxygen supply and decrease oxygen demand will lead to decreased incidence of critical anemia and subsequent improved mortality in Jehovah's Witness patients.

Risk factors for aseptic loosening in complex revision total knee arthroplasty using rotating hinge implants

PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine the risk factors of aseptic loosening (AL) in complex revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) cases using rotating hinge knee prosthesis.

METHODS

Patients who had undergone re-revision rotating hinge prosthesis surgery between January 2012 and December 2017 were included. Parameters related to AL were retrospectively reviewed. For this purpose, 31 aseptic loosening patients and 30 control patients were included in the study. Various risk factors were evaluated. Risk factors for AL after re-revision were determined using univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Thirty-one AL patients and 30 control patients were included. In the AL group, tibial tantalum cone and impaction grafting were performed significantly less frequently than the control group (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that smoking, right-sided TKA, and large femoral canal anteroposterior diameter were factors that increased the risk of AL after re-revision, while tibial tantalum cone decreased the risk of loosening. Smokers had an 11.847-fold higher risk for AL; right-sided TKA led to a 4.594-fold higher risk for AL. However, the presence of a tibial tantalum cone was associated with an 8.403-fold lower risk for AL.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that smoking, right-sided prosthesis, and large femoral canal diameter increased the risk of AL, while tantalum cone and impaction grafting reduced this risk in patients who underwent re-revision surgery with rotating hinge prosthesis after TKA.