Postoperative blood salvage in hip and knee arthroplasty: A prospective study on cost effectiveness in 161 patients

We conducted a prospective controlled study on 161 patients who underwent primary or revision total hip or knee arthroplasty to assess the efficacy and limitations of postoperative blood salvage. The actual quantity of blood salvaged after washing, the theoretical increase in hemoglobin concentration caused by its reinfusion and the cost of this procedure were studied. The mean amount of packed re…