Favourable results of a new intraoperative and postoperative filtered autologous blood re-transfusion system in total hip arthroplasty: a randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: A new intraoperative filtered salvaged blood re-transfusion system has been developed for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) that filters and re-transfuses the blood that is lost during THA. This system is intended to increase postoperative haemoglobin (Hb) levels, reduce perioperative net blood loss and reduce the need for allogeneic transfusions. It supposedly does not have the disadvantages of intraoperative cell-washing/separating re-transfusion systems, such as extensive procedure, high costs and need for specialised personnel. To re-transfuse as much as blood as possible, postoperatively drained blood was also re-transfused.

Methods: A randomised, controlled, blinded, single-centre trial was conducted in which 118 THA patients were randomised to an intraoperative autologous blood re-transfusion (ABT) filter system combined with a postoperative ABT filter unit or high-vacuum closed-suction drainage.

Results: On average, 577 ml of blood was re-transfused in the ABT group: 323 ml collected intraoperatively and 254 ml collected postoperatively. Hb level was higher in the ABT vs the high-vacuum drainage group: 11.4 vs. 10.8 g/dl, p = 0.02 on day one (primary endpoint) and 11.0 vs. 10.4 g/dl, p = 0.007 on day three. Total blood loss was less in the autotransfusion group: 1472 vs. 1678 ml, p = 0.03. Allogeneic transfusions were needed in 3.6 % of patients in the ABT group and 6.5 % in the drainage group, p = 0.68.

Conclusion: The use of a new intraoperative ABT filter system combined with a postoperative ABT unit resulted in higher postoperative Hb levels and less total blood loss compared with a high-vacuum drain following THA.