Anemia and Patient Blood Management in Hip and Knee Surgery

A systematic search was conducted to determine the characteristics of perioperative anemia, its association with clinical outcomes, and the effects of patient blood management interventions on these outcomes in patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery. In patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty and hip fracture surgery, preoperative anemia was highly prevalent, ranging from 24 +/- 9% to 44 +/- 9%, respectively. Postoperative anemia was even more prevalent (51% and 87 +/- 10%, respectively). Perioperative anemia was associated with a blood transfusion rate of 45 +/- 25% and 44 +/- 15%, postoperative infections, poorer physical functioning and recovery, and increased length of hospital stay and…