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Local infusion of norepinephrine reduces blood losses and need of transfusion in total knee arthroplasty.

Gasparini G, Papaleo P, Pola P, Cerciello S, Pola E, Fabbriciani C.

Department of Orthopedics, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.

Blood loss after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is often associated with cardiovascular complications and a high transfusion rate of allogenic blood. In our study we focused our attention on developing a new intra-surgical procedure that appears safe, easy to perform and effective in the reduction of bleeding in TKA. We evaluated 84 patients who underwent TKA and met our inclusion criteria; they were assigned to two groups: 55 controls in which a saline solution was used to wash the surgical field before tourniquet release, and a second group of 29 patients, in which a saline solution containing a low dose of norepinephrine was locally applied before tourniquet release. The local administration of a low dose of norepinephrine has induced a significant reduction of perioperative blood loss and blood transfusion requirements; in addition, this method was characterised by the absence of complications or adverse effects. In conclusion, our data suggest that intraoperative local administration of a low dose of norepinephrine could represent an effective and safe method of reducing blood loss and preventing blood transfusions in patients with TKA.

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Sharon Grant
Editorial Team