Operative treatment of trochanteric fractures with dynamic hip screw--is perioperative blood transfusion needed?
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2005
Abstract
The need for perioperative blood transfusion in elderly patients with trochanteric fracture scheduled for elective dynamic hip screw fixation has recently been questioned following reports on the association between allogeneic blood transfusion and post-operative infections. This retrospective study was undertaken to assess the amount of per operative blood loss and transfusion requirement in relation to pre-operative haemoglobin level in 198 patients with trochanteric fractures. The average per operative blood loss was 409 ml and it correlated well with the duration of the operation. More than half of the patients (52.5) required blood transfusion and nearly three-quarters were anaemic prior to the surgery. Proactive pre-operative measures to optimize the patient's haemoglobin level and intra-operative minimization of blood loss are essential steps to obviate the need for perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion.
Divisions
fac_med
Publication Title
Medical Journal of Malaysia
Volume
60
Issue
Spp. C
Publisher
Malaysian Medical Association
Additional Information
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA