Identification of Total Joint Arthroplasties with Very Low Need for Perioperative Blood Transfusion and for Autologous Blood Collection

Rationale:

(1) The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Expert Panel on the Use of Autologous Blood has recommended that patients with < 10% chance of needing a perioperative transfusion should not be encouraged to donate autologous blood.

(2) A large percentage (56% of units in the study population) of the autologous products are discarded.

Factors with an increased risk for blood transfusion:

(1) revision knee or hip procedure

(2) one-stage bilateral primary knee replacement

(3) initial hemoglobin < 130 g/L

(4) age >= 65

Groups with Very Low Chance of Perioperative Transfusion

Group 1:

(1) hemoglobin >= 150 g/L

(2) unilateral primary arthroplasty

Group 2:

(1) hemoglobin 130 – 150 g/L

(2) age < 65 years of age

(3) unilateral primary arthroplasty

NOTE: These findings are similar to those described above in 05.01.02.