Blood loss in total hip replacement : a retrospective study

Two hundred and twelve total hip replacements performed in one clinic over 1 year were reviewed. The mean operative time was 89 min and mean total blood loss 1090 ml. Homologous blood was administered to 74% of the patients. Blood loss was dependent on sex, body weight and height, but these correlations were eliminated when blood loss was related to estimated blood volume. There was no correlation to age. There was a positive correlation between operative time and intraoperative blood loss, but not between any of these factors and postoperative blood loss. Operative time varied significantly between surgeons, but there was no correlation between surgeon's experience and operative time or blood loss. Despite a mean of only 12 total hip replacements per surgeon, both operative time and blood loss were small compared to what was found in other studies. The use of a posterior approach is believed to contribute to a shorter operative time as well as to moderate blood loss. Intraoperative blood loss was less under epidural than under general anaesthesia, but in contrast to others we found higher postoperative blood loss after epidural anaesthesia.