Blood Management in Outpatient Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract

Based on a series of 407 outpatient total hip arthroplasties performed by a single surgeon, a standardized protocol for blood loss management in outpatient arthroplasty was developed consisting of a presurgical hematocrit of greater than 36%, administration of tranexamic acid, prophylactic introduction of albumin, hypotensive epidural anesthesia, monopolar electrocautery, and bipolar sealer. This protocol uses techniques that alone are not novel but together create a standardized and reproducible pathway that when implemented can increase the safety of outpatient hip arthroplasty.

Keywords: Blood loss management; Outpatient total hip arthroplasty; Protocol; Safety.