POSTOPERATIVE BLOOD SALVAGE IN TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY USING THE SOLCOTRANS AUTOTRANSFUSION SYSTEM

One hundred forty-four patients who underwent primary total knee arthr oplasty were examined in a prospective controlled study to determine t he efficacy and safety of a postoperative wound drainage autotransfusi on system (Solcotrans, Smith & Nephew Richards, Memphis, TN). The pati ents were divided into two groups: control group 1 comprised 88 (61%) patients who either received a Hemovac disposable drainage system (63 patients) or the Solcotrans system and had inadequate drainage for aut otransfusion (25 patients). Experimental group 2 comprised 56 (39%) pa tients who received a Solcotrans drainage system and were autotransfus ed. The Solcotrans proved itself safe. No sepsis, transfusion reaction s, or coagulopathies were associated with autotransfusion, which avera ged 524 mL. There were no significant differences between groups 1 and 2 when comparing preoperative and postoperative hemoglobins and hemat ocrits. The Solcotrans system did not lower homologous blood requireme nts. Only 1.6% (2 patients) of all patients who autodonated at least 2 units of autologous blood (122 patients) were in need of a homologous blood transfusion in the postoperative period. Thus, although safe, t he Solcotrans system was not proven effective in the management of pri mary total knee arthroplasty patients.