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 .
Prospective randomized evaluation of blood salvage techniques for primary total hip arthroplasty.
A controlled , r and omized , prospect i ve study was performed evaluating the need for perioperative blood salvage for primary total hip arthroplasty patients who had donated autologous blood before surgery . One hundred fifty-three patients able to donate at least 2 units of autologous blood were divided into four groups . In group 1 ( 35 patients ) , intraoperative and postoperative Cell-Saver ( Haemonetics , Braintree , MA ) was employed . In group 2 ( 40 patients ) , a postoperative Solcotrans ( Smith & Nephew Richards , Memphis , TN ) reinfusion protocol was followed . In group 3 ( 40 patients ) , a closed-suction Hemovac drain ( Zimmer , Warsaw , IN ) was placed . In group 4 , ( 38 patients ) , no drain was used . Decisions for transfusion were based on clinical and laboratory parameters and made in conjunction with medical consultation . All autologous blood was routinely reinfused . There was no statistically significant difference in transfusion requirements or wound complications among the four groups . Hemoglobin and hematocrit changes between groups also were not statistically significant , but a power test suggested insufficient patient numbers for absolute reliability of this observation . Only five patients ( 3.3 % ) in this study received homologous blood . Four of these patients were in the Solcotrans group and one was in the Cell-Saver group . Two reoperations were performed : one for hematoma ( Solcotrans group ) and one for a sewn-in drain . It is concluded that expensive perioperative blood salvage techniques are usually not needed in patients who have a primary total hip arthroplasty without cement and who have donated 2 units of blood before operation
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 .