Blood loss management in major elective orthopaedic surgery

Recommendations from the ICM-VTE: General

“…Rationale: Despite contemporary advancements in blood conservation strategies, patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery may experience significant intraoperative blood loss necessitating perioperative blood transfusions 373-377 . Notably, transfusion rates among modern cohorts undergoing complex total joint arthroplasty (TJA), spine surgery, or revision procedures may reach up to 20% 378-385 .…”

Tranexamic Acid: When is It Indicated in Orthopaedic Surgery?

“…Any surgery carries a risk of blood loss, and significant intraoperative blood loss can lead to postoperative anemia, resulting in the possible need for red blood cell transfusions, which are associated with complications such as transfusion-associated circulatory over-load, acute hemolysis, and acute lung injury [1,2]. Surgical blood loss should therefore be minimized.…”