The Effect of Postoperative Blood Transfusions on Muscle Tissue Oxygenation after Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

November 22, 2011

Institutional Review Board, Hospital for Special Surgery

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Principal Investigator

Stavros G. Memtsoudis, MD, PhD

Co-Investigators

Michael Nurok, MBChB, PhD
Sean Garvin, MD
Friedrich Boettner, MD
Matthias Walz, MD
Yan Ma, PhD
Thomas Danninger, MD
Carey Ford
Isabelle Kao
Daniel Yoo, MB

Summary

Thirty patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty or hip arthroplasty who require postoperative blood transfusions will be enrolled in this study. While surgery and postoperative care proceeds as usual, the enrolled patients will be monitored during potential blood transfusions with additional non-invasive devices targeted to continuously measure changes in hematocrit, tissue perfusion and cardiac output. The goal is to evaluate if there is a correlation with hematocrit levels and tissue perfusion post operatively.

Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:
All patients undergoing primary total knee or hip arthroplasty with a hematocrit of 38 or less on preoperative testing. This will increase the likelihood that patients will require postoperative blood transfusions.

Exclusion Criteria:
Patients with a hematocrit of greater than 38 at pre-operative testing and vulnerable populations such as minors, pregnant women, employees, prisoners, and the mental disabled.
Patients taking vasopressors and/or inotropic agents post-operatively

Contact Information

Stavros G. Memtsoudis, MD
memtsoudiss@hss.edu
212.606.1206