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 .
Increased interleukin-6 in collected drainage blood after total knee arthroplasty: An association with febrile reactions during retransfusion
We determined interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) concentrations in collected shed drainage blood intended for retransfusion in a prospect i ve study in 81 patients after total knee replacement . We found large increases in IL-6 levels , averaging 6.5 ( SD 3.9 ) ng/mL , in shed blood collected in the first 6 postoperative hours . 3 patients had febrile reactions after collected blood was retransfused . The IL-6 levels in the drainage blood of these patients were very high ( 9.6 - 13.4 ng/mL ) . In the blood collected after 6 hours , IL-6 concentrations increased to 47 ( SD 33 ) ng/mL ( p < 0.001 ) . These results suggest a relation between increased interleukin-6 concentrations in shed drainage blood and the occurrence of febrile reactions after retransfusion of such blood
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 .