[Postoperative recovery of blood in patients undergoing total knee or hip arthroplasty].

Background: In total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty occurs a considerable loss of blood, which often requires homologous transfusions of red blood cells. However, homologous transfusions have risks, besides being expensive and a limited resource. Thus, in order to reduce the need for homologous transfusions alternatives strategies have been developed, like post-operative recovery of blood.