Should We Regularly Assess Hemoglobin Levels Following Elective Total Knee Arthroplasty, with the Administration of TXA and Without the Usage Tourniquet? An Observational Study from a Single Center
2024

Assessing Hemoglobin Levels After Knee Surgery

Sample size: 271 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Gur Shanny, Akselrad Mor Bracha, Segal David, Fuchs Yuval, Perl Dan, Fainzack Alon, Ohana Nissim, Yaacobi Eyal, Markushevich Michael, Brin Yaron Shraga, Maniscalco Pietro, Ciatti Corrado, Quattrini Fabrizio

Primary Institution: Orthopedic Surgery Division, Meir Medical Center, Tel Aviv University

Hypothesis

Is routine postoperative laboratory testing necessary for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty with TXA and without a tourniquet?

Conclusion

The study suggests that selective hemoglobin monitoring is sufficient after total knee arthroplasty instead of routine checks.

Supporting Evidence

  • Patients with lower preoperative hemoglobin levels were at higher risk for postoperative anemia.
  • Routine blood monitoring may not be necessary for most patients after total knee arthroplasty.
  • Selective monitoring could reduce unnecessary hospital stays and costs.

Takeaway

Doctors found that most patients don't need regular blood tests after knee surgery if their hemoglobin levels are good before the operation.

Methodology

This was an observational, retrospective cohort study conducted at Meir Medical Center, analyzing data from 2018 to 2022.

Potential Biases

Potential selection bias and unmeasured confounding factors were acknowledged.

Limitations

The study's findings may not be generalizable due to being conducted at a single center and having partial data on BMI.

Participant Demographics

The study included 271 patients, with a mean age of 69 years, and 69.7% were female.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Confidence Interval

95% CI 96.6% to 99.8%

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3390/medicina60121964

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