Abstract
Objective : A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of intraoperative tourniquet hemostasis with intermittent release on blood loss and autologous transfusion volume in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) .
Methods : The volumes of blood loss and autologous transfusion were measured in 44 patients during TKA surgery. The patients were classified into two groups : Group A, 27 patients in whom blood was staunched intraoperatively with a releasing tourniquet, and Group B, 17 patients in whom blood was staunched intraoperatively with constant tourniquet compression, followed by postoperative tourniquet release and application of a compressive dressing.
Results : The volumes of intraoperative blood loss and total blood loss in group A were significantly larger than those in group B, and there was a correlation between the volume of postoperative blood loss and that of autologous transfusion.
These results show that intraoperative hemostasis with a releasing tourniquet does not decrease postoperative blood loss.
Conclusion : To avoid homologous transfusion, TKA should be performed under constant tourniquet compression, and autologous transfusion should be adopted to adjust for any postoperative blood loss.
