AUDIT OF POSTOPERATIVE AUTOTRANSFUSION OF SHED BLOOD IN HIP-ARTHROPLASTY

Auto-transfusion of shed blood for joint arthroplasty has several theo retical advantages: availability, compatibility, avoidance of transmis sion of infection and cost, The clinical records of 92 primary hip art hroplasties were reviewed to investigate the effect of auto-transfusio n on the use of the National Blood Transfusion Service both in terms o f blood ordered and subsequently used. Overall, post-operative auto-tr ansfusion had no significant effect on blood ordering or usage and was very expensive, The majority of patients were over transfused.