OBJECTIVE: To evaluate blood loss in patients submitted to cemented total knee arthroplasty with and without perioperative tourniquet release for hemostasis. METHODS: Seventy-two patients (eighty knees) were submitted to total knee arthroplasty, allocated into two groups: in Group 1, in which the pneumatic tourniquet was maintained until suture and dressing of the operated wound, and Group 2, in which the pneumatic tourniquet was released intraoperatively after cementing the prosthesis, with direct hemostasis, before the suture and dressing. The patients were evaluated for blood loss by the suction drain, and hemoglobin and hematocrit counts, at intervals of 2, 24 and 48 hours in the postoperative period tube. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of postoperative blood loss or decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit parameters. Only one patient, from Group 2, required a blood transfusion in the postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Postoperative blood loss in TKA was similar with and without perioperative release of the pneumatic tourniquet for hemostasis.
Arthroplasty; Hemostasis; Knee; Blood loss, surgical
