Introduction. The purpose is to evaluate the use of autotransfusors drains in total knee arthroplasty primary minimizes the drop in hemoglobin in the postoperative period, and the need for allogeneic blood transfusions. Material and methods. A retrospective, analitic and observational study, have been included 100 patients undergoing knee arthroplasty between January 2014 and January 2015 at the Dr. Peset Hospital. Compare the analytical parameters of bleeding (hemoglobin and hematocrit) and the need for blood transfusion among patients and not reinfused reinfused. Results. Fifty patients with Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) were reinfused with a mean volume of 505 ml. The need for allogenic blood transfusions was 4%, while in patients not reinfused was 24%. The average drop in postoperative hemoglobin was 1.12 g / dl lower in the group reinfused. Conclusions. The autotransfusion drain is a safe technique which improves post-transfusional values and therefore reduces the number of allogenic blood transfusions.

Introduction. The purpose is to evaluate the use of autotransfusors drains in total knee arthroplasty primary minimizes the drop in hemoglobin in the postoperative period, and the need for allogeneic blood transfusions. Material and methods. A retrospective, analitic and observational study, have been included 100 patients undergoing knee arthroplasty between January 2014 and January 2015 at the Dr. Peset Hospital. Compare the analytical parameters of bleeding (hemoglobin and hematocrit) and the need for blood transfusion among patients and not reinfused reinfused. Results. Fifty patients with Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) were reinfused with a mean volume of 505 ml. The need for allogenic blood transfusions was 4%, while in patients not reinfused was 24%. The average drop in postoperative hemoglobin was 1.12 g / dl lower in the group reinfused. Conclusions. The autotransfusion drain is a safe technique which improves post-transfusional values and therefore reduces the number of allogenic blood transfusions.