Modifiable Individual Risks of Perioperative Blood Transfusions and Acute Postoperative Complications in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Trends in deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis after total hip arthroplasty: 2016 to 2021

Introduction

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) has long been acknowledged as a potential complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA) contributing to heightened patient morbidity, mortality, and substantial healthcare costs. We aimed to: 1) assess trends in VTE prophylaxis utilization between 2016 and 2021; 2) determine the incidence of postoperative VTE and transfusions; and 3) identify independent risk factors for 90-day VTE and transfusion risks following THA in relation to the use of aspirin, dabigatran, enoxaparin, rivaroxaban, and warfarin.

Methods

A national, all-payer database was queried from January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022. Use trends for aspirin, enoxaparin, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, and warfarin as thromboprophylaxis following THA was assessed. Incidence of ninety-day postoperative outcomes assessed included rates of 90-day postoperative VTE and transfusion.

Results

From 2016 to 2021, aspirin (n = 36,346) was the most used agent for VTE prophylaxis after THA, followed by dabigatran (n = 13,065), rivaroxaban (n = 11,790), enoxaparin (n = 11,380), and warfarin (n = 6326). Independent risk factors for 90-day VTE included CKD, COPD, CHF, obesity, dabigatran, enoxaparin, rivaroxaban, and warfarin (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Aspirin was used with increasing frequency and demonstrated lower rates of VTE and transfusion following THA, compared to dabigatran, enoxaparin, rivaroxaban, and warfarin. These findings seem to indicate that the increasing use of aspirin in VTE prophylaxis has been accomplished in appropriately selected patients.

Blood-conserving and therapeutic efficacy of intravenous tranexamic acid at different time points after primary total knee arthroplasty with tourniquet application: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The use of a tourniquet in combination with tranexamic acid (TXA) not only ensures clear vision, reduces intraoperative blood loss and shortens operative time but also improves cement-bone inter-digitation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, there is no proof whether the blood flow blocking effect of tourniquet affects the antifibrinolytic effect of TXA, and the optimal timing of TXA administration is still unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of the first dose of TXA administered intravenously before tourniquet compression and release in TKA on perioperative blood loss and therapeutic efficacy in patients.

METHODS

In this double-blind trial, 90 patients undergoing primary TKA were randomised into 2 groups: Group A, patients received intravenous TXA 10 min before tourniquet compression (20 mg/kg) and 3, 6 and 24 h later (10 mg/kg), and Group B, patients were treated the same as those in Group A but received intravenous TXA before tourniquet release. The primary outcomes were changes in blood loss, haemoglobin and haematocrit. Secondary outcomes included operation and tourniquet times, blood transfusion rate, subcutaneous petechiae and circumferential changes in the operated limb, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, hospital for special surgery (HSS) score, length of stay (LOS) postoperatively, complications and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups with regard to age, sex, weight, body mass index (BMI), Kellgren-Lawrence class, preoperative blood volume, preoperative laboratory values, operation and tourniquet times, transfusion rate, knee circumference, preoperative HSS, or VAS score (P:n.s.). There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss (IBL) (52.7 ml vs. 63.4 ml, P = 0.07), hidden blood loss (HBL) (91.4 ml vs. 119.9, P = 0.4) or total blood loss (TBL) (144.1 ml vs. 183.3 ml, P = 0.72) between Groups A and B. Haemoglobin, haematocrit and red blood cell count (RBC) dropped to a low point on postoperative day 3 and then rebounded, returning to normal levels on day 21, and the trend of change between the 2 groups was not statistically significant (P:n.s.). There was no significant difference in subcutaneous ecchymosis incidence, knee swelling rate, HSS score, VAS score, LOS postoperatively, complication rate or patient satisfaction (P:n.s.).

CONCLUSION

TXA was administered intravenously prior to tourniquet compression could effectively reduce blood loss in patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty. However, there was no significant difference in knee swelling rate, subcutaneous bruising and petechiae incidence, knee function, complication rate or satisfaction between patients who TXA was given intravenously before tourniquet compression and release in primary TKA.

Predictors and complications of blood transfusion in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty

PURPOSE

Our research investigated predictors of postoperative blood transfusion rate following total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and evaluated the incidence of complications in the transfusion group and non-transfusion group.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively analyzed risk factors among 320 RA patients who underwent elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from January 2010 to December 2018. Demographic characteristics, laboratory results, medication history, and surgical protocol were gathered from electronic medical records. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to measure the impact of relevant variables on the need for transfusions. In addition, we compared the incidence of complications associated with transfusion.

RESULTS

The cohort comprised 320 RA patients, aged 57.4 ± 12.0 years, of whom 137 required postoperative blood transfusions and 183 did not. BMI, type of surgery, duration of surgery, disease activity score 28 (DAS28-CRP), tranexamic acid (TXA) administration, and preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) were all risk factors for transfusion after adjusting for the planned procedure.

CONCLUSION

Previously published predictors, such as BMI, low preoperative hemoglobin, duration of surgery, procedure type (THA), were also identified in our analysis. Moreover, TXA administration and the DAS28-CRP showed the potential to influence risk. The incidence of postoperative complications was increased in patients who received blood transfusions compared to non-transfusion group. Our findings could help to identify RA patient population requiring blood transfusions, to ensure the necessary steps are adopted to limit blood loss and improve blood management strategies. Key Points • The risk factors for blood transfusion in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty were BMI, the type of surgery, duration of surgery, TXA administration, DAS28-CRP, and preoperative hemoglobin. • The incidence of postoperative complications was increased in patients who received blood transfusions compared to non-transfusion group.

[Preoperative screening for risk factors]

The demographic change and continuously improving healthcare lead to increasing numbers of older, comorbid patients in elective orthopedic surgery. Perioperative risk assessment is crucial for patient counseling and preoperative planning. Risk factors, such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, anemia, malnutrition, obesity, smoking and insufficiently controlled diabetes mellitus are common in patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. A thorough and early screening not only enables the individual assessment of the risk profile but in an elective setting also enables the chance for modification of certain risk factors in order to reduce the individual perioperative risk. Meanwhile, recommendations regarding risk stratification and adjustment of modifiable risk factors are included in national guidelines on the indications for elective total hip arthroplasty.