Hidden blood loss after total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: Hidden blood loss commonly occurs after total hip arthroplasty, and has great impact on function recovery after replacement. OBJECTIVE: To investigate relative factors for hidden blood loss after total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: A retrospective study of the clinical data of 850 consecutive patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty was carried on. The hidden blood loss was calculated according to Ward designed mathematical methods through calculating circulating blood volume of red blood cells using hematocrit and Cross formula linear equation. The effects of patient gender, age, body mass index, type of disease, deep vein thrombosis, postoperative anticoagulation method and type of prosthesis on the postoperative hidden blood loss were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The amount of hidden blood loss after total hip arthroplasty was higher than that of obvious blood loss. Body mass index, type of disease and type of prosthesis could influence the amount of hidden blood loss after total hip arthroplasty, while the influences of patient gender, age, anticoagulation method and lower extremity deep vein thrombosis on hidden blood loss after total hip arthroplasty were not significant.