Reduced Blood Loss and Transfusion Rates: Additional Benefits of Local Infiltration Anaesthesia in Knee Arthroplasty Patients

Abstract

We hypothesised that local infiltration of anaesthesia (LIA) containing adrenaline may reduce peri-operative blood loss and transfusion requirements in primary total knee arthroplasty patients (TKA) when compared to simple patient control analgesia (PCA). In this retrospective cohort study there were 22 TKAs in the PCA group and 27 TKAs in the LIA group. There were no drains used or significant differences in demographics between groups. There was a statistically significant difference in blood loss (P = 0.003), between the LIA group (M = 942 ml, CI 829-1055), and the PCA group (M = 1314 ml, CI 1099-1527). Patients receiving PCA were 4.3 times more likely to require blood transfusion. Using the LIA technique reduces blood loss and risk of blood transfusion.

Keywords: blood loss; enhanced recovery; knee arthroplasty; local infiltration of anaesthesia; transfusion rates.