T. Dalen et al., CELL QUALITY OF SALVAGED BLOOD AFTER TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY - DRAIN BLOOD COMPARED TO VENOUS-BLOOD IN 32 PATIENTS, Acta orthopaedica Scandinavica, 66(4), 1995, pp. 329-333
We used the ConstaVac(R) drainage retransfusion system in 32 patients
operated on with cemented tricompartmental knee arthroplasty. The mean
total postoperative bleeding was 1.1 L of which 0.7 L was retransfuse
d within 8 hours postoperatively. Samples were taken from the venous b
lood and drain blood at 2 hours and 6-8 hours postoperatively. The dra
in blood had low counts for leukocytes and thrombocytes as compared to
venous blood, and fibrinogen was almost absent. Incubation at room te
mperature slightly lowered glucose and pH which made the erythrocytes
swell. There was a slight hemolysis in the drain blood at 2 hours. At
6-8 hours the shed blood was closer to normal, especially with regard
to hemolysis, but there was a further decrease in glucose. Within this
time, there was no change in acidity and no further swelling of the e
rythrocytes. No clinical adverse reactions were observed and we consid
er the observed cellular and chemical changes to be of little importan
ce. The quality of filtered drain blood within the analyzed time limit
is considered acceptable for clinical use.