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 comparative study of two different autotransfusion methods versus control group in total knee replacement
Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two different autotransfusion methods in total knee replacement ( TKR ) performed without tourniquet , in comparison to allogeneic blood transfusion ( ABT ) only . Method In a comparative study , 248 patients with knee osteoarthritis were r and omized in three groups : in control Group 85 the patients underwent only ABT post-operatively , in Group 1 ( n:92 ) an intraoperative and postoperative autotransfusion were utilized , and in Group 2 ( n:71 ) only a postoperative autotransfusion was applied . Post-operative ABT was utilized according to predetermined criteria . Results Comparing Group 0 to Group 1 and 2 the difference in need for ABT post-operatively was statistically highly significant ( p < 0.001 ) even when the results were analyzed classifying the patients according to the preoperative Hb levels . The difference between Group 1 and 2 was not significant . Conclusion According to the results of this study , auto-transfusion reduces the need for ABT  in TKR performed without tourniquet
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 .