Findings and Conclusion To our knowledge , this is the first meta- analysis to compare the clinical results between PAT and a control in joint replacement patients .
This meta- analysis has proven that the use of a PAT reinfusion system reduced significantly the dem and for ABT , the number of patients who require ABT and the cost of hospitalization after total knee and hip arthroplasty .
This study , together with other previously published data , suggests that PAT drains are beneficial .
Background Total hip or knee arthroplasty is an elective procedure that is usually accompanied by substantial blood loss , which may lead to acute anemia .
As a result , almost half of total joint arthroplasty patients receive allogeneic blood transfusions ( ABT ) .
Many studies have shown that post-operative auto-transfusion ( PAT ) significantly reduces the need for  ABT  , but other studies have question ed the efficacy of this method .
Autotransfusion drains in total knee replacement. Are they alternatives to homologous transfusion?
We prospect ively r and omised 104 consecutive patients undergoing primary cemented total knee arthroplasty into two groups of 52 patients each , with one group to receive a st and ard suction drain ( Redivac ) and the other , an autologous transfusion drain ( Bellovac ) . R and omisation was achieved using the software programme MINIM , which was set to r and omly allocate patients to either of the two groups based on their age , sex and body mass index ( BMI ) . All procedures were performed under pneumatic tourniquet . Drains were released in the recovery room 20 min after surgery and removed 24 h following surgery . Blood collected in the st and ard suction drain ( control group ) was discarded , while blood collected in the autologous transfusion drains ( study group ) was transfused unwashed back to the patient within 6 h of collection . Thirteen patients ( 25 % ) in the study group had two or more units of homologous blood transfused in addition to the blood collected postoperatively and re-transfused ( average : 438 ml ) . Twelve patients ( 23 % ) in the control group had two or more units of homologous blood transfused . No sepsis , transfusion reactions or coagulopathies were associated with the autologous blood transfused in the study group . The use of the autologous transfusion system ( Bellovac ) proved to be safe but failed to reduce the need for postoperative homologous blood transfusion following uncomplicated total knee arthroplasty . RésuméNous avons étudié , de façon prospect i ve r and omisée , 104 patients consécutifs ayant bénéficié d’une prothèse totale du genou cimentée . Chaque patient a reçu soit un drain aspiratif st and ard ( Redivac ) soit un drain permettant une retransfusion ( Bellovac ) . 52 patients ont été r and omisés dans chaque groupe à l’aide d’un programme software avec une excellente concomitance entre l’âge , le sexe et le BMI . Toutes les interventions ont été réalisées avec garrot . Les drains ont été mis en aspiration en salle de réveil , 20 minutes après la fin de l’acte chirurgical . Ces drains ont été ôtés 24 heures après la chirurgie . Le sang collecté dans le drain st and ard a été rejeté alors que le drain Bellovac a permis de récupérer le sang , le retransfuser sans lavage six heures après l’intervention . 39 patients ( 25 % ) dans le groupe st and ard ont eu deux , ou plus de deux , unités sanguines de transfusion en plus du sang récupéré dans le drain ( 438 ml en moyenne ) . 12 patients ( 23 % ) dans le groupe contrôle ont eu deux , ou plus de deux , transfusions . Il n’y a pas eu d’infection , de réaction sanguine après ré-infusion du sang du redon . L’utilisation d’un système de réutilisation du sang de type Bellovac n’entraîne pas de problèmes particuliers mais il ne permet pas de diminuer la nécessité de transfusions post-opératoires après une prothèse totale du genou st and ard sans complication
Findings and Conclusion To our knowledge , this is the first meta- analysis to compare the clinical results between PAT and a control in joint replacement patients .
This meta- analysis has proven that the use of a PAT reinfusion system reduced significantly the dem and for ABT , the number of patients who require ABT and the cost of hospitalization after total knee and hip arthroplasty .
This study , together with other previously published data , suggests that PAT drains are beneficial .
Background Total hip or knee arthroplasty is an elective procedure that is usually accompanied by substantial blood loss , which may lead to acute anemia .
As a result , almost half of total joint arthroplasty patients receive allogeneic blood transfusions ( ABT ) .
Many studies have shown that post-operative auto-transfusion ( PAT ) significantly reduces the need for  ABT  , but other studies have question ed the efficacy of this method .