Bilateral total knee arthroplasty-analysis of risk factors for blood loss and blood transfusion

Background: Total knee arthroplasty in general is a safe and successful surgical procedure for end stage arthritis of the knee joint to relieve pain, correct the deformity and restore function in the joint. However, it is often associated with significant blood loss. In such cases, blood transfusion is not uncommon. Methods: 100 patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA from April 2022 to December 2022 at Sant Parmanand Hospital, New Delhi were taken up for the study. Results: In this study among 100 patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral total knee replacement, 9% of the cases required blood transfusion. Preoperative haemoglobin (<12.64 gm/dl) continues to be a predictor in blood transfusions. A haemoglobin level of less than 10.34 gm/dl preoperatively, a postoperative haemoglobin day 1 level of less than 8.56gm/dl and a postoperative day 3 level of less than 7.49 gm/dl increases the necessity for blood transfusion in simultaneously performed bilateral TKAs. Conclusions: Asthma, Diabetes mellitus and patients on blood thinners are three major comorbidities than can cause increased blood loss. Age, gender, BMI and comorbidities are not related to the need for blood transfusion. Patients on blood thinners are at an increased risk for blood transfusion if they have a lower preoperative haemoglobin. Checking haemoglobin values on postoperative day 1 and day 3 are significant in terms of the need for blood transfusion.