23rd – 26th AUGUST, 2023
Presenting Author - SAKTTHI SELLAYEE
Abstract Athroplasty is a field of orthopedics that has evolved tremendously over the years.
However, the one main complication of blood loss still remains imperative. It is not uncommon
to overlook or underestimate the blood loss for the patients and thus our study accosts this issue
to bring about a standardized method to quantify blood loss. Objective To assess the accuracy of
the clinically estimated blood loss (EBL) when compared with the actual blood loss (ABL) in
Arthroplasty procedures. Methods This prospective study was done in Sri Ramachandra Medical
Centre from April 2016 to June 2017. Altogether 140 patients ( 65 men , 75 women) undergoing
total hip replacement or total knee replacement were included. Inclusion criteria being patients
with haemoglobin higher than 100g/ml and coagulation profile within normal limits. Exclusion
criteria were; intake of anti-platelet drug or anti-coagulant, bleeding disorders, thrombotic
episode, and haematological disorders. In this study, the consultants were free to use any clinical
method to estimate the blood loss, including counting the blood-soaked mops and gauze pieces
(estimating the volume of blood carried in all the mops and gauzes), measuring blood lost to
suction bottles and blood in and around the operative field. The ABL was calculated based on a
modification of the Gross’s formula using haematocrit values. Results In 42 of the 140 cases, the
EBL exceeded the ABL. These cases had a negative difference in blood loss (or DIFF-BL < 0) and
were included in the overestimation group, which accounted for 30% of the study population. Of
the remaining 98 cases (70%), the ABL exceeded the EBL. Therefore they were put into the
underestimated group who had a positive difference in blood loss (DIFF-BL > 0). We found that
when the average blood loss was small, the accuracy of estimation was high. But when the
average blood loss exceeded 500 ml, the accuracy rate decreased significantly. This suggested
that clinical estimation is inaccurate with the increase of blood loss. Conclusion We conclude that
using clinical estimation alone to guide blood transfusion is inadequate. In this study, 70% of
patients had their blood loss underestimated, proving that surgeons often underestimate blood
loss in replacement surgeries.
Asia Pacific Arthroplasty Society Incorporated