Do we really need to routinely crossmatch blood before primary total knee or hip arthroplasty?
GROUND: A maximum surgical blood ordering schedule may lead to wastage of valuable resources due to over-ordering of blood and/or under-utilisation. We audited the results of a group-and-save (GS) policy for primary hip (THR) and knee (TKR) arthroplasty to evaluate its safety and practicality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive patients attending for THR (177) or TKR (137) over a period of 8 months (phase 1). Following introduction of a limited GS policy, 205 THR and 147 TKR were reviewed prospectively over a corresponding period of 8 months (phase 2). Corresponding THR and TKR groups in each phase were comparable with respect to age, gender, length of stay, operating surgeon, pre- and lowest postoperative hemoglobin, reason for and timing of transfusion. Quantities (units) of blood requested pre- and postoperatively, transfused and returned to the blood bank, were recorded. RESULTS: 77 and 62% of all blood requested for THR and TKR, respectively,
