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 .
Autologous blood transfusion in total knee replacement surgery.
BACKGROUND / AIM Total knee replacement ( TKR ) surgery is one of the most frequent and the most extensive procedures in orthopedic surgery , accompanied with some serious complications . Perioperative blood loss is one of the most serious losses , so it is vital to recognize and treat such losses properly . Autologous blood transfusion is the only true alternative for the allogeneic blood . The aim of this study was to to examine if autologous blood transfusion reduces usage of allogenic blood in total knee replacement surgery , as well as to examine possible effect of autologous blood transfusion on postoperative complications , recovery and hospital stay of patients after total knee replacement surgery . METHODS During the controlled , prospect i ve , r and omised study we compared two groups of patients ( n = 112 ) with total prosthesis implanted in their knee . The group I consisted of the patients who received the transfusion of other people 's ( allogeneic ) blood ( n = 57 ) and the group II of the patients  whose blood was collected postoperatively and then given them [ their own ( autologous ) blood ] ( n = 55 ) . The transfusion trigger for both groups was hemoglobin level of 85 g/L. RESULTS In the group of patients whose blood was collected perioperatively only 9 ( 0.9 % ) of the patients received  transfusion of allogeneic blood , as opposed to the control group in which 98.24 % of the patients received the transfusion of allogeneic blood ( p < or = 0.01 ) . The patients whose blood was collected stayed in hospital for 6.18 days , while the patients of the control group stayed 7.67 days ( p < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSION Autologous blood transfusion is a very effective method for reducing consumption of allogenic blood and thus , indirectly for reducing all complications related to allogenic blood transfusion . There is also a positive influence on postoperative recovery after total knee replacement surgery due to the reduction of hospital stay , and indirectly on the reduction of hospital costs
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 .