Is There a Role for Preoperative Iron Supplementation in Patients Preparing for a Total Hip or Total Knee Arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND: Several treatment modalities exist for the treatment of perioperative anemia. We determined the effect of oral iron supplementation on preoperative anemia, and the use of blood-conserving interventions before total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: A total of 3435 total joint arthroplasties (1461 THAs and 1974 TKAs) were analyzed during 2 phases of a blood conservation program. The first phase used erythropoietin alfa (EPO) or intravenous (IV) iron for patients at risk for perioperative anemia. The second phase included these interventions, as well as preoperative iron supplementation. The effect on preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) and serum ferritin, as well as EPO and IV iron utilization, was determined. RESULTS: Oral iron therapy increased preoperative Hb level by 6 g/L (P < .001) and 7 g/L (P < .001) in the hip and knee cohorts, respectively. Serum ferritin level rose by 80 µg/L (P < .001) and 52 µg/L (P < .001) in the hip and knee cohorts, respectively. The number of patients with an Hb level <130 g/L was significantly reduced (P < .001 for both cohorts), as were patients with serum ferritin levels <35 µg/L (P = .002 for hip and P < .001 for knee cohorts). Utilization of EPO reduced from 16% to 6% (P < .001) and 18% to 6% (P < .001) in the hip and knee cohorts, respectively. Utilization of IV iron reduced from 4% to 2% (P = .05) and 5% to 2% (P < .001) in the hip and knee cohorts, respectively. CONCLUSION: Oral iron therapy reduced the burden of perioperative anemia and reduced utilization of other blood-conserving therapies before THA and TKA. Future research should delineate the cost-effectiveness of oral iron therapy.

Cerebral Oximetry Monitoring to Maintain Normal Cerebral Oxygen Saturation during High-risk Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral oxygen desaturation during cardiac surgery has been associated with adverse perioperative outcomes. Before a large multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the impact of preventing desaturations on perioperative outcomes, the authors undertook a randomized prospective, parallel-arm, multicenter feasibility RCT to determine whether an intervention algorithm could prevent desaturations. METHODS: Eight Canadian sites randomized 201 patients between April 2012 and October 2013. The primary outcome was the success rate of reversing cerebral desaturations below 10% relative to baseline in the intervention group. Anesthesiologists were blinded to the cerebral saturation values in the control group. Intensive care unit personnel were blinded to cerebral saturation values for both groups. Secondary outcomes included the area under the curve of cerebral desaturation load, enrolment rates, and a 30-day follow-up for adverse events. RESULTS: Cerebral desaturations occurred in 71 (70%) of the 102 intervention group patients and 56 (57%) of the 99 control group patients (P = 0.04). Reversal was successful in 69 (97%) of the intervention group patients. The mean cerebral desaturation load (SD) in the operating room was smaller for intervention group patients compared with control group patients (104 [217] %.min vs. 398 [869] %.min, mean difference, -294; 95% CI, -562 to -26; P = 0.03). This was also true in the intensive care unit (P = 0.02). There were no differences in adverse events between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Study sites were successful in reversal of desaturation, patient recruitment, randomization, and follow-up in cardiac surgery, supporting the feasibility of conducting a large multicenter RCT.

Erythropoietin and intravenous iron in PBM.

The concept of patient blood management is such that if a patient with anemia can be identified in the pre-operative period, therapeutic modalities can be targeted to that patient who might benefit from such treatment. Management strategies include the optimization of preoperative hemoglobin by maximizing hemopoiesis and RBC mass. This can best be achieved with the use of iron supplementation, either oral or intravenous, with or without the use of erythrocyte stimulating agents (ESAs) such as erythropoietin. The use of i.v. iron and ESAs is reviewed. Different i.v. iron formulations available are discussed along with current indications and contraindications for the use of ESAs.

One dose of tranexamic acid is safe and effective in revision knee arthroplasty.

Revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been associated with an increased risk of perioperative blood loss. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been proven to be safe and effective in preventing blood loss in primary TKA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of TXA on blood loss and transfusion rates in revision TKA. We performed a retrospective comparative study on 424 patients who had undergone revision TKA between January 2006 and March 2010. A total of 178 patients did not receive TXA while 246 patients received one intraoperative dose of 20mg/kg of TXA given prior to tourniquet release. There was a significant reduction in hemoglobin loss (42±16g/L vs 38±15g/L, P=0.005), transfusion rates (30.3% vs 16.7%, P=0.001) and average amount transfused (1.1±1.9units vs 0.5±1.1units, P=0.001) in the TXA group. There was no significant difference in recorded major adverse events with the administration of TXA.

One intraoperative dose of tranexamic Acid for patients having primary hip or knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies suggest tranexamic acid reduces blood loss and red cell transfusions in patients undergoing THA or TKA. However, many of the dosing schedules in these studies are not ideally suited for routine application. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We asked whether one 20-mg per kg intraoperative dose of tranexamic acid in patients having primary THA or TKA would (1) decrease perioperative blood loss and red cell transfusion rates and (2) be a cost-effective protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 234 patients operated on from April 1 to June 30, 2007 (before our study protocol) and 259 patients from April 1 to June 30, 2008 with the single-dose protocol. We then compared change in hemoglobin, transfusion rates, hemoglobin at discharge, hospital length of stay, and complications between the two groups. No other routine patient care practices or blood conservation program strategies were altered during this time. RESULTS: We found a reduction in the decrease in hemoglobin in 2008 compared with 2007 for THA and TKA (39 from 46 g/L and 36 from 45 g/L, respectively),which led to a reduction in transfusion rates (3.6% from 13.5% and 2.0% from 13.4%, respectively) and higher hemoglobin levels at discharge [corrected].There were no recorded major adverse events associated with the introduction of this protocol. CONCLUSIONS: One 20-mg per kg intraoperative dose of tranexamic acid reduced the perioperative decrease in hemoglobin and red blood cell transfusion rates in patients having TKA and THA compared with those of a similar cohort of patients in whom the protocol was not used. This weight increment dosing facilitated pharmacy drug preparation, led to minimal dose variability and wastage, and resulted in a substantial estimated cost savings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Programmatic blood conservation in cardiac surgery.

Despite efforts to reduce blood transfusion rates in cardiac surgery over the past 40 years, cardiac surgery still consumes 10% to 20% of the blood transfused in the United States. This large demand has not only placed a significant pressure on the national blood supply, resulting in frequent shortages, but also has lead to many technical and pharmacological advances in blood conservation strategies in recent years. Recently, studies have shown that an organized approach to blood conservation in cardiac surgery is effective in significantly reducing the perioperative use of allogeneic blood and blood products. However, blood conservation techniques are multiple, varied, and in many situations costly and thus cannot be uniformly applied to all patients. Early preoperative planning and a coordinated perioperative plan allow the appropriate use of blood conservation modalities to ensure that their benefits span the entire perioperative period. This article describes some of the modalities currently used in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.