Background. The aim of the present study was to do an update on blood saving strategies in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) through a bibliographic review as well as to know which strategies are followed in different hospitals in our area, through a multi-center study. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional observational study was carried out based on a survey of 64 surgeons and a bibliographic research on the different topics included in the survey. Results. The 48.4% (31/64) of surgeons report that they have pre-surgical blood saving protocols implanted at their hospital. The use of tranexamic acid is fairly wide-spread, 71.9% of respondents (46/64) uses it. It´s administered intravenously prior to surgery in 26.6% (17/64) of the cases, intra-articularly in 21.9% (14/64) and in a com-bination of both in a 23, 4% (15/64). The preferred moment for tourniquet inflation is before surgical site preparation in 57.8% (37/64) while 39.1% (25/64) prefers to do it after. 3.1% (2/64) of surgeons don´t use tourniquet for TKR. Conclusions. In the last years, the use of ATX has imposed as the main blood-saving strategy although there is no consensus regarding the optimal dose or its route of administration. The efficacy of ATX is influencing on the trend to avoid postoperative drains and the implementation of early rehabilitation programs

Background. The aim of the present study was to do an update on blood saving strategies in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) through a bibliographic review as well as to know which strategies are followed in different hospitals in our area, through a multi-center study. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional observational study was carried out based on a survey of 64 surgeons and a bibliographic research on the different topics included in the survey. Results. The 48.4% (31/64) of surgeons report that they have pre-surgical blood saving protocols implanted at their hospital. The use of tranexamic acid is fairly wide-spread, 71.9% of respondents (46/64) uses it. It´s administered intravenously prior to surgery in 26.6% (17/64) of the cases, intra-articularly in 21.9% (14/64) and in a com-bination of both in a 23, 4% (15/64). The preferred moment for tourniquet inflation is before surgical site preparation in 57.8% (37/64) while 39.1% (25/64) prefers to do it after. 3.1% (2/64) of surgeons don´t use tourniquet for TKR. Conclusions. In the last years, the use of ATX has imposed as the main blood-saving strategy although there is no consensus regarding the optimal dose or its route of administration. The efficacy of ATX is influencing on the trend to avoid postoperative drains and the implementation of early rehabilitation programs