TKA procedure and blood transfusion
All the TKAs were performed under general anaesthesia. All the
operations were performed by the same senior surgeon in the same laminar
air flow operation room. A midline skin incision, medial parapatellar
approach, and a measured resection technique were performed in all the
patients. Intramedullary guides were used for all the femoral
preparations, and extramedullary guides were also used for the tibial
preparations. All the patients received a cemented posterior-stabilized
prosthetic with patellar resurfacing, and all the TKAs were conducted
without a tourniquet. In addition, no blood salvage system or
postoperative drain was used (13), and electrocautery and routine
haemostasis were routinely performed during the surgery.
Blood transfusion was indicated for any patients with an Hb level of
<70 g/L or an Hb level between 70 and 100 g/L and symptomatic
anaemia (severe mental status changes, palpitations, and/or pallor)(14).