The Use of Reinfusion Drains after Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients Treated with Low Molecular Weight Heparin for Thromboembolic Prophylaxis

Abstract

The effect of closed-suction drainage with redcell reinfusion on patients receiving low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) prophylaxis after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has not been previously studied. Therefore, our goals were to determine the effect of reinfusion drains and LMWH on allogeneic transfusions and wound complications after TKA by comparing patients treated with and without drains. Overall, transfusion rates were lower in the drain group (40% vs 15%, P=.04). Patients with reinfusion drains had a significantly higher rate of allogeneic transfusion (15.8%) than those predonating autologous blood and no drain (5.4%, P=.0003). The drain group had lower rates of wound complications (P=not significant). We were unable to demonstrate the efficacy of red-cell reinfusion as a substitute for autologous donation in TKA.

Developing and Implementing an Orthopaedic Outcomes Program

“…We have presented and published more than 25 research projects using our outcomes data. From our knee arthroplasty database, we studied the use of reinfusion drains after surgery (Gordon et al, 2005). We have also used our outcomes databases to report on other nursing-related issues such as postoperative pain and ambulation (Powell, Pulido, Tuason, Colwell, & Ezzet, 2006).…”

Acute Compartment Syndrome of the Forearm following Autologous Blood Reinfusion: A Case Report

“…Autologous reinfusion following arthroplasty is controversial with regard to its effect on postoperative hemoglobin levels and the need for blood transfusion in the perioperative period [2,5,11,13,16,19,20,26,29,34,35]. Nevertheless, autologous reinfusion seems to be safe, as we were unable to find any mention of complications and/or adverse reactions directly related to the reinfusion of autologous blood into a peripheral intravenous line.…”