Impact of a blood management protocol on transfusion rates and outcomes following total hip and knee arthroplasty

摘要

INTRODUCTION Preoperative anaemia remains undertreated in the UK despite advice from national agencies to implement blood conservation measures. A local retrospective audit of 717 primary hip/knee replacements in 2008-2009 revealed 25% of patients were anaemic preoperatively. These patients experienced significantly increased transfusion requirements and length of stay. We report the results of a simple and pragmatic blood management protocol in a district general hospital.