A comparison of transfusion requirements after total knee arthroplasty using the Solcotrans autotransfusion system.

Twenty-five consecutive total knee arthroplasties were performed with the Solcotrans unit for scavenging postoperative drainage (study group) and were compared with the previous 25 arthroplasties performed without the Solcotrans unit (control group). Mean preoperative hematocrits, estimated blood loss, and fluid replacement for both control and study groups were nearly identical. When the autotransfusion system was not used, 10 patients in the control group required transfusion of a total of 20 units of packed red blood cells, while only two patients utilizing the Solcotrans unit required transfusion of five units of packed red blood cells (P less than .01). The total amount autotransfused in the study group averaged 607.9 mm, and the hematocrit of the scavenged drainage was 29.3%. Samples from all autotransfusions were sent to the microbiology lab for routine culture and were finalized as no growth after 14 days. Serial postoperative hematocrits, platelet counts, prothrombin, partial thromboplastin, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine values were compared between the two groups. No significant differences were found, and no evidence of coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia or renal dysfunction was found in the study group.