Incidence of neuraxial haematoma after total hip or knee surgery: RECORD programme (rivaroxaban vs. enoxaparin).

BACKGROUND: Patients receiving anticoagulants could be at higher risk of compressive haematoma with neuraxial anaesthesia use. The phase III RECORD programme compared rivaroxaban with enoxaparin for prevention of venous thromboembolism after total hip or knee replacement surgery in more than 12,500 patients. This observational analysis evaluated the risk of neuraxial haematoma after neuraxial anaesthesia in patients receiving rivaroxaban or enoxaparin using pooled RECORD1-4 data. METHODS: The incidences of intraspinal bleeding or haemorrhagic puncture were recorded as part of the criteria for major bleeding (the primary safety outcome in the RECORD studies). Incidences of allogeneic transfusion and venous thromboembolism by type of anaesthesia were also recorded. RESULTS: No compressive haematomas occurred in rivaroxaban-treated patients (10 mg once daily started 6-8 h after surgery) who underwent neuraxial anaesthesia (n = 4086). Among enoxaparin-treated patients (n = 4090), one compressive spinal haematoma requiring laminectomy occurred after epidural catheter removal in an elderly female patient with renal insufficiency undergoing total knee replacement. Total venous thromboembolism rates did not differ according to type of anaesthesia. CONCLUSION: Although no issues were observed with the use of neuraxial anaesthesia in this population of 4086 patients receiving rivaroxaban after total hip or knee replacement, it is important to remain aware of the risk of compressive haematoma. This may be of particular concern in elderly patients with renal insufficiency receiving an anticoagulant predominantly eliminated via the kidneys.

Safety assessment of new antithrombotic agents: lessons from the EXTEND study on ximelagatran.

BACKGROUND: Ximelagatran, the first oral direct thrombin inhibitor, was shown to be an effective antithrombotic agent but was associated with potential liver toxicity after prolonged administration. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: The aim of the EXTEND study was to assess safety and efficacy of extended administration (35 days) of ximelagatran or enoxaparin for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after elective hip replacement and hip fracture surgery. A follow-up period, including assessment of liver enzymes (in particular alanine aminotransferase; ALAT), until post-operative day 180 was planned, with visits at days 56 and 180. RESULTS: Randomization and administration of study drugs were stopped following a report of serious liver injury occurring 3 weeks after completion of ximelagatran treatment. At the time of study termination, 1158 patients had been randomized and 641 had completed the 35-day treatment; with 303 ximelagatran and 265 enoxaparin patients remaining in the study through to the day 56 follow-up visit. Overall, 58 patients showed an ALAT increase to >2x upper limit of normal: 31 treated with enoxaparin, 27 with ximelagatran. Three ximelagatran patients also showed symptoms potentially related to liver toxicity. Eleven ximelagatran patients showed an ALAT increase after study treatment ended. The clinical development of ximelagatran was terminated and the drug withdrawn from the market. Evaluation of the relative efficacy of the two treatments as specified in the protocol was impossible due to the premature termination of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged administration of ximelagatran was associated with an increased risk of liver toxicity. In a substantial proportion of patients, ALAT increase occurred after treatment withdrawal. The findings seen with ximelagatran should be considered when designing studies with new antithrombotic agents.

[Blood conservation approaches in orthopedic surgery]. / Epargne transfusionnelle en chirurgie orthopédique.

In addition to more restrictive "transfusion triggers", presently available allogeneic blood conservation strategies in surgery include preoperative increase in red blood cells (RBC) mass, techniques or pharmaceutical agents that reduce blood loss, and perioperative blood salvage. Because of very important risk reduction in allogeneic blood, benefit/risk of preautologous blood donation (PAD) is quite questionable at this moment. Indeed, at this moment in France, we focus to avoid any transfusion (allogeneic and autologous blood). Therefore the most important techniques used are pharmacological: erythropoietin before surgery with a number of injections related to baseline Hb, and tranexamic acid during and after surgery. Cell saving is used only if bleeding is enough important like arthroplasty revisions. All blood conservation techniques carry their own efficiency limits, constraints and risks that, in addition to institutional considerations and individual patient characteristics are determinant to settle a blood conservation strategy. The choice of a technique should take into account (a) the delay before surgery, (b) the anticipated blood loss for the procedure that varies among institutions, (c) the tolerable blood loss without transfusion for the patient, and (d) the efficacy of the blood conservation technique in the given setting. Nevertheless, at this moment in France, it is quite important to notice that the risk of delay or lack of transfusion induces much more deaths that the transfusion itself during or after anesthesia [Anesthesiology 105, 1087-97].

Oral dabigatran etexilate vs. subcutaneous enoxaparin for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after total knee replacement: the RE-MODEL randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Oral anticoagulants, such as dabigatran etexilate, an oral, direct thrombin inhibitor, that do not require monitoring or dose adjustment offer potential for prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism (VTE) after total knee replacement surgery. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind study, 2076 patients undergoing total knee replacement received dabigatran etexilate, 150 mg or 220 mg once-daily, starting with a half-dose 1-4 hours after surgery, or subcutaneous enoxaparin 40 mg once-daily, starting the evening before surgery, for 6-10 days. Patients were followed-up for 3 months. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of total VTE (venographic or symptomatic) and mortality during treatment, and the primary safety outcome was the incidence of bleeding events. RESULTS: The primary efficacy outcome occurred in 37.7% (193 of 512) of the enoxaparin group versus 36.4% (183 of 503) of the dabigatran etexilate 220 mg group (absolute difference, -1.3%; 95% CI, -7.3 to 4.6) and 40.5% (213 of 526) of the 150 mg group (2.8%; 95% CI, -3.1 to 8.7). Both doses were noninferior to enoxaparin based on the pre-specified noninferiority criterion. The incidence of major bleeding did not differ significantly between the three groups (1.3% versus 1.5% and 1.3% respectively). No significant differences in the incidences of liver enzyme elevation and acute coronary events were observed during treatment or follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Dabigatran etexilate (220 mg or 150 mg) was at least as effective and with a similar safety profile as enoxaparin for prevention of VTE after total knee-replacement surgery.

Discontinuation of Plavix® (clopidogrel) for hip fracture surgery. A systematic review of the literature.

The elderly population is increasing worldwide, associated with an increase in diseases related to aging, such as hip fractures. These patients are sometimes treated with clopidogrel. There are no arguments at present to clearly determine the risk/benefit ratio of early surgical management of traumatic hip fractures in patients treated with clopidogrel (perioperative blood loss, postoperative complications). The goal of this systematic review of the literature was to show that early surgical management (<48h) of patients treated with clopidogrel does not increase postoperative morbidity or mortality. Systematic review of the literature: level of evidence IV. A bibliographic search was performed in July 2015 in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases using the MeSh keywords "Clopidogrel or Plavix®" AND "hip fracture". Two of the authors analyzed 48 articles based on the title and abstract. Twenty-one articles were selected and read completely with an analysis of the references. Nine articles were chosen. Early surgical management (<48h) of patients receiving clopidogrel did not increase mortality at 30days, 3months or 1 year (between 25 and 30% mortality at 1 year) and did not result in an increase in perioperative bleeding. The risk/benefit ratio of early surgical management of patients with hip fractures receiving clopidogrel is good; morbidity and mortality are not increased in these patients if surgery is performed immediately or less than 48h after admission. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

[Direct oral anticoagulant associated bleeding]. / Hémorragie survenant chez un patient traité par un anticoagulant oral direct.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are recommended for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and for the treatment of venous thromboembolism. However, they are associated with hemorrhagic complications. Management of DOAC-induced bleeding remains challenging. Activated or non-activated prothrombin concentrates are proposed, although their efficacy to reverse DOAC is uncertain. Therapeutic options also include antidotes: idarucizumab, antidote for dabigatran, has been approved for use whereas andexanet alpha, antidote for anti-Xa agents, and aripazine, antidote for all DOAC, are under development. Other options include hemodialysis for the treatment of dabigatran-associated bleeding and administration of oral charcoal if recent DOAC ingestion. DOAC plasma concentration measurement is necessary to guide DOAC reversal. We propose an update on DOAC-associated bleeding, integrating the availability of dabigatran antidote and the critical place of DOAC concentration measurements.

Venous thromboembolism and mortality after hip fracture surgery: the ESCORTE study.

BACKGROUND: Recent changes in the management of hip fracture surgery patients may have modified the epidemiology of postoperative complications. OBJECTIVES: We performed an observational study of a cohort of patients undergoing hip fracture surgery to update the epidemiological data on this population. The primary study outcome was the incidence of confirmed symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) [defined as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism (PE), or both] at 3 months. Overall mortality at 1, 3 and 6 months was also evaluated. PATIENTS/METHODS: Consecutive patients aged at least 18 years hospitalized in French public or private hospitals (531 centers) undergoing hip fracture surgery were recruited prospectively during 2 months in 2002 and a follow-up at 6 months. Predictive factors for VTE at 3 months and for death at 6 months were also analyzed. RESULTS: Data from 6860 (97.3%) of the 7019 recruited patients were included in the analysis. The median age was 82 years. Low molecular weight heparins were administered perioperatively in 97.6% of patients; 69.5% received this treatment for at least 4 weeks. The actuarial rate of confirmed symptomatic VTE at 3 months was 1.34% (85 events, 95% CI: 1.04-1.64). There were 16 PEs (actuarial rate: 0.25%), three of which were fatal. Overall, 1006 (14.7%) patients were dead at 6 months. Cardiovascular disease was the most frequent cause of death (270 patients; 26.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The current rate of postoperative VTE is low, but overall mortality remains high. Indeed, hip fracture patients belong to a vulnerable group of old people with comorbid diseases and a high risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. An interdisciplinary approach could be the challenge to improve short and long-term outcome.

A new oral direct thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran etexilate, compared with enoxaparin for prevention of thromboembolic events following total hip or knee replacement: the BISTRO II randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Dabigatran etexilate is an oral direct thrombin inhibitor undergoing evaluation for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following orthopedic surgery. METHODS: In a multicenter, parallel-group, double-blind study, 1973 patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement were randomized to 6-10 days of oral dabigatran etexilate (50, 150 mg twice daily, 300 mg once daily, 225 mg twice daily), starting 1-4 h after surgery, or subcutaneous enoxaparin (40 mg once daily) starting 12 h prior to surgery. The primary efficacy outcome was the incidence of VTE (detected by bilateral venography or symptomatic events) during treatment. RESULTS: Of the 1949 treated patients, 1464 (75%) patients were evaluable for the efficacy analysis. VTE occurred in 28.5%, 17.4%, 16.6%, 13.1% and 24% of patients assigned to dabigatran etexilate 50, 150 mg twice daily, 300 mg once daily, 225 mg twice daily and enoxaparin, respectively. A significant dose-dependent decrease in VTE occurred with increasing doses of dabigatran etexilate (P < 0.0001). Compared with enoxaparin, VTE was significantly lower in patients receiving 150 mg twice daily [odds ratio (OR) 0.65, P = 0.04], 300 mg once daily (OR 0.61, P = 0.02) and 225 mg twice daily (OR 0.47, P = 0.0007). Compared with enoxaparin, major bleeding was significantly lower with 50 mg twice daily (0.3% vs. 2.0%, P = 0.047) but elevated with higher doses, nearly reaching statistical significance with the 300 mg once-daily dose (4.7%, P = 0.051). CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of dabigatran etexilate, commenced early in the postoperative period, was effective and safe across a range of doses. Further optimization of the efficacy/safety balance will be addressed in future studies.

[Prevention of heterotopic ossifications in hip arthroplasty: effectiveness of selective Cox-2 inhibitors (celecoxib) versus ketoprofen]. / Comparaison célécoxib versus kétoprofène pour la prévention des ossifications péri-prothétiques de hanche.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Peri-prosthetic ossifications are a frequent complication of total hip arthroplasty, which, if effective preventive measures are not taken, occur in 60% of patients. Numerous classic antiinflammatory agents have shown their preventive efficacy. New selective Cox-2 inhibitors offer the possibility of reducing the adverse effects of antiinflammatory drugs but remain to be proven effective in this indication. The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the efficacy of celecoxib versus ketoprofen. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In order to obtain sufficient statistical power to have a 70% chance of detecting a 25% difference between the two treatments with a 5% risk of error, we evaluated the incidence of peri-prosthetic ossifications of the hip in a prospective monocentric series of 52 patients receiving 400 mg celecoxib a day during a week. It was compared with the incidence in a control series of 52 matched patients (same age, gender, diagnosis, operator experience) given 200 mg ketoprofen iv for 48 hr then 300 mg po for 5 days as preventive treatment. Ossifications were studied on the plain AP view of the pelvis at a mean follow-up of more than 11 months (11.4 vs 11.9). The Brooker classification was determined. RESULTS: The percent of patients presenting peri-prosthetic ossifications was equivalent. For the celecoxib group, 60% of the patients were free of ossifications; 28.9% presented stage 1 ossification and 11.1% stage 2 ossification; none of the hip exhibited a higher stage. In the ketoprofen control group, 53.2% of patients were free of ossification, 38.2% had stage 1 ossification, 6.4% stage 2, and 2.1% stage 3; there was no patient with stage 4. Fisher's exact test did not demonstrate a significant difference between the groups (p<0.51). Compared with an older series of patients who were not given preventive treatment, there was a significant reduction in incidence of peri-prosthetic ossification (p=0.014). DISCUSSION: The two study groups were not significantly different for age, gender, or underlying disease. There were an equivalent number of cases of intolerance to treatment in the two groups. CONCLUSION: These findings appear to indicate an equivalent efficacy for celecoxib and ketoprofen for the reduction of peri-prosthetic ossifications. Based on these results, a randomized prospective comparative study can be undertaken without risk of losing effective prevention in one group. This prospective study should enable a more precise evaluation of treatment equivalence and quantify any potential gain in morbidity obtained with celecoxib.

[Management of direct oral anticoagulants for invasive procedures]. / Gestion des anticoagulants oraux directs pour un acte invasif.

Three new Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs), rivaroxaban, apixaban and dabigatran etexilate are available on the French market. Management of DOAC-induced bleeding risk remains challenging. For elective procedures with high hemorrhagic risk, a last DOAC intake five days before procedure ensures complete elimination in all patients. Heparin bridging therapy should be proposed only to patients at high thrombotic risk. For elective procedures with low hemorrhagic risk, the DOAC intake of the night before procedure should be omitted. For urgent procedures with high bleeding risk, DOAC plasmatic concentration can be helpful: concentration lower than 30 ng/mL should enable performing the procedure; a high concentration is associated with a higher bleeding risk, especially if higher than 400 ng/mL. In case of massive bleeding, no antidote is approved yet; activated prothrombin concentrates or non-activated 4-factors prothrombin concentrates could be considered.

The direct thrombin inhibitor melagatran followed by oral ximelagatran compared with enoxaparin for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after total hip or knee replacement: the EXPRESS study.

BACKGROUND: Ximelagatran and its subcutaneous (s.c.) form melagatran are novel direct thrombin inhibitors for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disease. METHODS: In a double-blind study, 2835 consecutive patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement were randomized to either melagatran/ximelagatran or enoxaparin. Melagatran 2 mg was started immediately before surgery; 3 mg was then administered postoperatively, followed by 24 mg of oral ximelagatran b.i.d. beginning the next day. Enoxaparin 40 mg, administered subcutaneously o.d., was started 12 h before surgery. Both treatments were continued for 8-11 days. The main efficacy outcome measures were major venous thromboembolism (VTE); [proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT), non-fatal and/or fatal pulmonary embolism (PE), death where PE could not be ruled out], and total VTE (proximal and distal DVT; PE; death from all causes). DVT was detected by mandatory bilateral ascending venography at the end of the treatment period or earlier if clinically suspected. The main safety outcome was bleeding. RESULTS: The rates of major and total VTE were significantly lower in the melagatran/ximelagatran group compared with the enoxaparin group (2.3% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.0000018; and 20.3% vs. 26.6%, P < 0.0004, respectively). Fatal bleeding, critical site bleeding and bleeding requiring reoperation did not differ between the two groups. 'Excessive bleeding as judged by the investigator' was more frequent with melagatran/ximelagatran than with enoxaparin. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement, preoperatively initiated s.c. melagatran followed by oral ximelagatran was significantly more effective in preventing VTE than preoperatively initiated s.c. enoxaparin.

[Peri-operative use of EPO]. / Erythropoïétine en péri-opératoire.

In moderately anaemic patients, Autologous Blood Donation is much less effective than Erythropoïetin (EPO) at constituting a pre-operative RBC reserve. Indeed, the ability to give blood is limited or even impossible for anaemic individuals. EPO lowers the risks associated with autologous and allogeneic transfusions, while improving probably the quality of life of the patients. EPO therapy is efficient, in moderate anaemic patients, to reduce allogeneic transfusion when iron supplementation is associated. All blood conservation techniques carry their own efficiency limits, constraints and risks that, in addition to institutional considerations and individual patient characteristics, are determinant to settle a blood conservation strategy. But to optimise benefit/cost/effectiveness of this technique, it is important to take into account the delay before surgery, the anticipated blood loss for the procedure that varies among institutions and the tolerable blood loss without transfusion for the patient. To reduce the cost, a strategy according to baseline haematocrit and to blood loss has to be adapted at each patient. Furthermore, when the delay between the first EPO injection and the surgical procedure is sufficient, the number of injections can be easily reduced to obtain the same Ht the day prior to surgery.

[Preoperative strategy for homologous blood salvage and peri-operative erythropoietin]. / Stratégie préopératoire d'épargne sanguine homologue et érythropoïétine en péri-chirurgie.

The amount of transfused blood is related to blood loss calculated for the specific type of surgical procedure, transfusion hematocrit trigger and patient's red blood cell mass on the day before surgery. To optimise the benefit/cost and benefit/risk ratios of blood transfusion, a correct prescription must be done in accordance with the patient's red blood cell mass and surgical blood loss. Indeed, there is a clear need to define the appropriate uses of blood management methods and to seek new methods of improving perioperative blood management. The number of moderately anaemic patients undergoing surgery is currently thought to be 20%. Where transfusion requirements are estimated at two to three blood units, as for instance in the most common types of orthopaedic surgery, preoperative haemoglobin is the key factor governing transfusion needs. In this case, the simplest approach is to prescribe Epoetin Alfa subcutaneous at a dose of 600 IU/kg/week starting three weeks before the surgery. In addition, it is important in all cases to give concomitant iron supplements. Concomitant use of other methods to decrease allogeneic blood requirements is of no value. Obviously, the higher the haematocrit the day prior to surgery, the higher the patient's RBC mass and the greater the patient's permitted blood loss, decreasing the transfusion trigger. In this way, allogeneic blood loss is reduced, but without the need for the patient to attend the blood transfusion center and to undergo laboratory screening and testing of donated blood, and without the risk of inducing preoperative anaemia compared with sequential autologous blood donation. But, to optimise the benefit/cost ratio, we try to define precisely the patient populations likely to benefit from preoperative erythropoietin. Using different examples, management is proposed with algorithms.

[Medical environment of total hip prosthesis]. / L'environnement médical de la prothése totale de hanche.

Total hip replacement is an extremely frequent operation for the treatment of degenerative joint disease. Indication for surgery must take into account the patient's general status, associated diseases, multiple joint involvement, and the efficacy and tolerance to medical treatments. The decision to operate is taken together by the physician and the patient. The degree of functional impairment and the patient's age are important factors. The patient must be informed that the period of hospitalization will be approximately 15 days and that good results are obtained in approximately 98% of the cases. Preoperative consultation with the anesthesist will focus on associated diseases with special attention to possible infectious foyers. Early post operative care includes a 48 hour antibiotic reginien, thromboprophylaxy with low molecular weight heparin for 3 days followed by anti-vitamin K for 6 weeks, and non-steroid antiinflammatory drugs for 5 days of up to 6 weeks in case of suspected risk of ossification. At mid-term, complications may include hematomas, infection and luxation. The fixation may also fail in certain cases where transtrochanter access was used. Long-term follow-up monitors for possible late onset infection and late luxations which usually result from prosthesis wear and more rarely from muscular causes.

[Blood loss and nausea during legal abortion]. / Saignement et nausées lors d'interruptions volontaires de grossesse.

The efficiency of oxytocic drugs in therapeutic abortion was studied in 113 women who were randomly assigned to either a control group (n = 44) receiving no oxytocic drugs, a group (n = 36) receiving 0.2 mg ergometrine by slow intravenous injection, or a group (n = 33) given 5 units oxytocin in a intravenous infusion throughout the procedure. The three groups were comparable with regard to the age of patients, the age of pregnancies and parity. The surgical procedure was the same in all three groups and carried out by the same surgeon. General anaesthesia was obtained with an infusion of 500 mg methohexitone and 500 micrograms fentanyl in 500 ml isotonic dextrose solution at a rate of 3 ml X min-1. The anaesthetic requirements were 2.94 +/- 0.80 micrograms X kg-1 fentanyl and 2.94 +/- 0,80 mg X kg-1 methohexitone. The criteria studied were the blood loss as measured by the volume aspired, the presence or absence of nausea and vomiting after the procedure, the age of pregnancy and the total amount of anaesthetic drugs given. No correlation was found between the amount of anaesthetic drugs given and the frequency of nausea and vomiting, and between the amount of blood lost (r = 0.287; ddl = 111; alpha = 17.322). The study did not, therefore, confirm the reputation of oxytocic drugs in reducing the bleeding. It seemed that, in therapeutic abortion, spontaneous uterine contraction was sufficient to control the bleeding. But a significant correlation was found between the amount of blood lost and the age of the pregnancy (r = 0.399; ddl = 111; alpha less than 1%).

[Effects of nifedipine premedication on peroperative hypothermia]. / Effets de la nifédipine en prémédication sur l'hypothermie peropératoire.

The intraoperative time-course of core temperature in patients premedicated with nifedipine (n = 30) was compared to that of control patients (n = 30). Distal oesophageal temperature (TCORE) was recorded every five minutes during total hip replacement in 60 adults ranked ASA 1 to 2. Patients in the control group were only premedicated with 100 mg of oral hydroxyzine. The treatment group consisted of 30 patients taking nifedipine for blood pressure control or coronary insufficiency. They were given 10 mg sublingual nifedipine as well as the hydroxyzine premedication. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone, fentanyl and vecuronium, and maintained with nitrous oxide in oxygen and halothane in a semi-closed circuit. The slopes of the time-course for TCORE were established for each patient, using two linear regressions, between 0 and 0.5 h and from 1 to 2 h. The two groups did not differ in age, weight, ambient temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and volume of unwarmed blood transfused. TCORE differed significantly from the 25th minute on until the end of the study period. Contrary to all expectation the TCORE at 2 h was higher in the nifedipine group (34.85 +/- 0.09 degrees C) than in the control group (34.01 +/- 0.14 degrees C, p < 0.001). TCORE decreased more rapidly in the control group during the first study interval (0 to 0.5 h), -1.50 +/- 0.60 degrees C.h-1 vs -2.34 +/- 1.02 degrees C.h-1 (p < 0.001). The second slopes did not differ particularly (-0.96 +/- 1.32 degrees C.h-1 vs -0.90 +/- 0.42 degrees C.h-1 respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Comparison of effects of Elohes and albumin on hemostasis in orthopedic surgery]. / Comparaison des effets de l'Elohes et de l'albumine sur l'hémostase en chirurgie orthopédique.

A prospective study was carried out to determine the effects of Elohes, a low molecular weight hydroxyethylstarch, on haemostasis. Sixteen patients due to undergo total hip replacement were randomly assigned to one of two groups: group A, who were to receive up to 21 of 4% albumin to replace blood loss, and group E, 1.51 of Elohes. Patients were then given concentrated red cell packs (RCP) and lactated Ringer's solution so as to have a haematocrit value of 30%, up to the fifth postoperative day. The amount of blood lost intraoperatively was calculated by weighing the swabs and measuring the volume aspirated. Haemostasis was investigated on the eve of surgery, 3 hours afterwards, and then every second day (days 1, 3 and 5). Total blood loss and the number of RCP transfused were similar in both groups: 1,517 +/- 425 ml and 3.5 RCP, and 1,428 +/- 250 ml and 3.25 RCP in groups A and E respectively. Blood albumin concentrations fell in group E as expected, the starch diluting blood proteins. Bleeding time (Simplate), activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time changed in the same way in both groups throughout the study period after infusion of either Elohes or albumin. The concentrations in factors II, V, VII and X fell by 30% three hours after surgery. Values returned to normal between days 1 and 3, the concentrations of some factors rising to values greater than preoperative values because of the postoperative inflammatory process (fibrinogen, factor VIII von Willebrand). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Preoperative hemodilution by erythrocytapheresis with homologous blood saving in total hip arthroplasty]. / Contribution de l'hémodilution préopératoire par érythrophérèse à l'épargne de sang homologue au cours de l'arthroplastie totale de hanche.

OBJECTIVES: To compare three techniques for decreasing homologous blood requirements in total hip arthroplasty (THA), including preoperative autologous donation (PAD), preoperative acute normovolaemic haemodilution with erythrocytapheresis (erythro) and intraoperative normovolaemic haemodilution (haemo). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. PATIENTS: The study included 45 patients scheduled for THA, under general anaesthesia and operated on by the same surgeon. The patients were allocated into three groups of 15 each. METHODS: Blood loss was assessed, during surgical procedure, by the weight of sponges and, the amount of blood collected in the suction bottles during and after surgery. The haemoglobin concentration was measured at the time of preoperative assessement (d-30), just prior to surgery (d-1), in the recovery room (d+3h), and 1, 3, and 8 days later (d8). The transfusion end-point in the three groups was to obtain a haemoglobin concentration of 100 g.L-1 from d+3h until d8. Every pack of red blood cells transfused was weighed and its haematocrit assessed to determine the accurate volume of red blood cells. RESULTS: In the three groups haemoglobin concentration was similar from d+3h until d8. In the PAD group, no patient required homologous blood transfusion. There was no significant difference between the two other groups in the mean volume of homologous red blood cells required (308 +/- 197 mL in erythro group and 331 +/- 202 mL in the haemo group, respectively). The intraoperative blood loss was significantly higher (P = 0.001) in the erythro group: 914 +/- 305 mL vs 665 +/- 263 in the PAD group and 512 +/- 146 mL in the haemo group, respectively. There was an inverse correlation between haematocrit at d-1 and intraoperative bleeding (r = -0.7) (P = 0.0001). The distribution of the points was fitted as an exponential curve. CONCLUSIONS: In THA, PAD is obviously the best technique to avoid homologous blood transfusion. However, when PAD is not feasible, removal of blood prior to surgery does not decrease requirements of homologous blood, as intraoperative blood loss is higher. Our results strongly question the use of major haemodilution during a surgical procedure exposing a major blood loss.

[Comparison of Orth-Evac and Solcotrans Plus devices for the autotransfusion of blood drained after total knee joint arthroplasty]. / Comparaison des dispositifs Orth-Evac et Solcotrans Plus pour l'autotransfusion du sang drainé après arthroplastie totale du genou.

Surgical wound blood which is ched through drains after total knee replacement surgery with a tourniquet may be returned to the patient using special collecting devices. This study aimed to compare two systems, Orth-Evac and Solcotrans Plus an to assess the safety of the reinfusion of non washed blood cells. It included 30 patients scheduled for total knee replacement surgery, free from tumoral or coagulation disease and allocated randomly in three groups of 10 each: the Orth-Evac group (OGr), the Solcotrans Plus group (SGr) and the Control group (CGr). The devices, not containing an anticoagulant, were connected to the deep suction drains in the operating room, after skin closure and before the tourniquet removal. The salvaged blood was reinfused in the subsequent six hours via a 40 microns filter. The volume of collected blood was measured and homologous blood was added as required, to maintain a hematocrit of 30%. A blood sample was obtained the day before surgery (D - 1), before reinfusion (D0), two hours later (D + 2h), one day later (D + 1), and from the collecting device before reinfusion. The statistical analysis used the Kruskal-Wallis test and Steel-Dwass procedure to confirm the difference between two groups. The three groups did not differ in age, weight, height and gender. The volume of salvaged and autotransfused blood was 925 +/- 156 mL in OGr and 605 +/- 178 mL in SGr respectively, transfusion of homologous blood was required in two patients of OGr, four of SGr and six of CGr. At D + 1, the hematocrit was comparable in all groups (OGr = 28%, SGr = 28.2% and CGr = 28.5%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)