Blood Conservation Techniques and Strategies in Orthopedic Anesthesia Practice

Anesthesiol Clin. 2022 Sep;40(3):511-527. doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2022.06.002. Epub 2022 Jul 12.

Abstract

Orthopedic surgery procedures involving joint arthroplasty, complex spine, long bone and pelvis procedure, and trauma and oncological cases can be associated with a high risk of bleeding and need for blood transfusion, making efforts to optimize patient care and reduce blood loss very important. Patient blood management programs incorporate efforts to optimize preoperative anemia, develop transfusion protocols and restrictive hemoglobin triggers, advance surgical and anesthesia practice, and use antifibrinolytic therapies. Perioperative management of anticoagulant therapies, a multidisciplinary decision-making task, weighs in risks and benefits of thromboembolic risk and surgical bleeding and is patient- and surgery-specific.

Keywords: Anemia management; Blood conservation; Orthopedic anesthesia; Orthopedic surgery; Patient blood management; Tranexamic acid.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anemia* / therapy
  • Anesthesia*
  • Antifibrinolytic Agents*
  • Blood Loss, Surgical / prevention & control
  • Blood Transfusion / methods
  • Humans

Substances

  • Antifibrinolytic Agents