Search

Background: There are significant variations in transfusion rates among institutions performing total joint arthroplasty. We previously demonstrated that implementation of an educational program to increase awareness of the American Association of Blood Banks' transfusion guidelines led to an immediate decrease in transfusion rates at our facilities. It remained unclear how this initiative would endure over time. We report the long-term success and sustainability of this quality program.Methods: We reviewed the Michigan Arthroplasty Collaborative Quality Initiative data from 2012 through 2017 of all patients undergoing primary hip and knee arthroplasty at our institutions for preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin level, transfusion status, and number of units transfused and transfusions outside of protocol to identify changes surrounding our blood transfusion educational initiative. We calculated the transfusions prevented and cost implications over the course of the study.Results: We identified 6645 primary hip and knee arthroplasty patients. There was a significant decrease in transfusion rate and overall transfusions in each group when compared to pre-education values. Subgroup analysis of TKA and THA independently showed significant decreases in both transfusion rate and overall transfusions. Over the final 3 years of the study, only 2 patients were transfused outside of the American Association of Blood Banks protocol. We estimate prevention of 519 transfusions over the study period.Conclusion: Application of this quality initiative was an effective means of identifying opportunities for quality improvement. The program was easily initiated, had significant early impact, and has been shown to be sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), persistent joint activity and treatment with glucocorticoids are associated with musculoskeletal complications. About 30% of these patients become candidates for surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in SLE patients.Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care center in Mexico City between 1995 and 2013. All patients with SLE who underwent THA during that period were included (n = 58). They were compared with 2 control groups, one from another inflammatory arthropathy (rheumatoid arthritis, n = 58) and other noninflammatory (osteoarthritis, n = 58), matched by gender and date of surgery. The primary outcome was the frequency of postoperative complications during follow-up.Results: We included 174 patients who underwent THA during the study period. Patients with SLE were younger (P < .0001), had a longer hospitalization stay (P = .001), and required more transfusions (P = .004). Global complications in THA in patients with SLE were more prevalent than rheumatoid arthritis (36.2% vs 15.5%, P = .029) and osteoarthritis (36.2% vs 5.1%, P < .0001) patients. After multivariate analysis, risk factors for THA complications were: SLE (hazard ratio 2.8, 95% confidence interval 1.2-6.8; P = .018) and low postoperative hemoglobin (hazard ratio 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.73-0.83; P < .0001). Long-term complications after THA were similar among groups.Conclusion: This is the largest single-center study regarding clinical outcomes after THA in SLE patients. Our data suggest that SLE is an independent risk factor for adverse postoperative outcomes, mainly immediate complications, but the long-term outcome is good enough to offer surgical treatment that will improve quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Controversy continues regarding the use of powerful anticoagulants for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). To comply with institution-mandated guidelines and pressure from hospitalist intent on complying with conventionally recommended anticoagulation guidelines, we singularly changed our chemoprophylaxis practice from using aspirin to Lovenox and noted that transfusion rates increased substantially.Methods: A retrospective case review was performed to evaluate transfusion requirement differences in primary TKA patients receiving Lovenox (unilateral TKA: n = 135, bilateral TKA: n = 44) or aspirin (unilateral TKA: n = 153, bilateral TKA: n = 45) for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. Pearson's chi-square tests were used to evaluate surgical complications and the rate of transfusions between aspirin and Lovenox groups. Independent t tests were used to evaluate the units of packed red blood cells transfused, hemoglobin drop, and hematocrit drop between aspirin and Lovenox groups.Results: Lovenox was found to significantly increase (P < .01) the rate of transfusion, units of packed red blood cells, hemoglobin drop, and hematocrit drop compared to aspirin in both unilateral and bilateral TKA patients, without significantly decreasing venous thromboembolism events (aspirin: 3 pulmonary embolisms and 4 deep venous thrombosis; Lovenox: 3 pulmonary embolisms and 2 deep venous thrombosis).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that aspirin is as effective as Lovenox in preventing venous thromboembolism and that the use of Lovenox significantly increases the likelihood of requiring transfusions after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) is associated with substantial blood loss and a high probability of blood transfusion in the perioperative period. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination of intravenous (IV) and topical tranexamic acid (TXA) in revision THA.Methods: Eighty-four consecutive patients undergoing revision THA were randomized into combined group and IV-TXA group. Patients in the combined group were given intravenously 15 mg/kg TXA as a preoperative, and topical TXA solution was applied at a concentration of 3 g TXA per 100-mL saline during the different procedure points. Patients in the IV-TXA group were given intravenously 15 mg/kg TXA alone.Results: The mean total blood loss, drainage volume, and maximum hemoglobin drop were significantly lower in the combined group than the IV-TXA group (P < .001, P < .001, P < .001, respectively). Compared with the IV-TXA group, the amount of blood transfusions and number of blood transfusions required were decreased dramatically in the combined group (P = .027, P < .001, respectively). One deep vein thrombosis and 4 calf muscular vein thrombosis in the combined group and 3 calf muscular vein thrombosis in the IV-TXA were detected by the Doppler ultrasound. No pulmonary embolism was observed and no significant differences were found in other complications between the 2 groups.Conclusion: This study showed that combined administration of IV and topical TXA in revision THA can effectively decrease total blood loss and number of blood transfusions required without increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis or/and pulmonary embolism compared with IV-TXA alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Proponents of navigation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) report lower rates of systemic embolization and perioperative bleeding compared to conventional TKA given that breeching the intramedullary canal is not required.Methods: We queried the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program to compare perioperative respiratory complications and transfusions between navigated and conventional TKA. We identified 2008 patients who underwent navigated TKA. These patients were matched 4:1 to a control group of 8026 patients.Results: Conventional TKA resulted in similar odds of having a respiratory complication compared to navigated TKA (odds ratio = 1.35, P = .44). However, conventional TKA was found to be an independent predictor for requiring a transfusion perioperatively (odds ratio = 1.90, P < .001).Conclusion: Use of navigation in TKA results in less perioperative transfusions but has no influence on the rate of respiratory complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative complications and perioperative transfusions are common after hemiarthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty (THA) and can lead to increased morbidity and mortality.Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database was queried to compare 30-day major complications and perioperative transfusions after femoral neck fractures.Results: A total of 4058 patients were included in the study: 3192 were treated with hemiarthroplasty and 866 with THA. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that having a THA was not an independent risk factor for major complications (odds ratio = 0.8, P = .18) but was an independent risk factor for requiring transfusions (odds ratio = 1.68, P < .001).Conclusion: The risk of major complications is influenced by patient factors rather than the choice of procedure. However, THA was a risk factor for transfusions after controlling for all other variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far, studies of topical tranexamic acid (TXA) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) were still lacking and controversial. We conducted this randomized double-blind controlled trial which included 101 patients to assess the effect of a high-dose 3 g topical TXA in THA. The results showed that 3 g topical TXA could significantly reduce transfusions from 22.4% to 5.7% ( P < 0.05) without increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and other complications. In addition, topical TXA significantly reduced total blood loss, reduced drain blood loss, and the drops of HB and HCT in topical TXA group were lower than control group. We concluded that 3 g topical TXA was effective and safe in reducing bleeding and transfusions in THA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]