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Perioperative blood loss, transfusion need not reduced by fibrin sealant in TKA
Perioperative blood loss and the need for allogeneic blood transfusion were not reduced among patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty who received topical applications of a fibrin sealant, according to study results.
Researchers randomly assigned 62 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee scheduled for primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to receive either topical application of fibrin sealant or not to receive any additional treatment other than the TKA.
Study results showed a mean total blood loss of 1.8 L in the treatment group vs. 1.9 L in the control group.
The two groups also had a similar transfusion rate, with 25.8% of patients in the treatment group undergoing transfusion compared with 32.3% of patients in the control group; however, the transfusion rate decreased linearly in the treatment group with increasing preoperative Hb levels, according to the researchers.
Disclosure: See the study for a full list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.