Polysaccharide hemostatic system reduces blood loss in high-body-mass-index patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty

To investigate the efficacy of a topically applied hemostatic agent used to reduce blood loss in patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Thirty-two patients (5 male, 27 female) mean age 65 +/- A 9.3 (46-80) undergoing single-stage bilateral TKA were enrolled in the study and divided in two groups. Groups 1 and 2 consisted of patients with body mass index (BMI) < 30 and > 30, respectively. Polysaccharide hemostatic agent (PHA; 3 g) was applied topically to the right knees of each patient intraoperatively. The left knees were used as controls. A negative suction drain was used and the effect of PHA and BMI on postoperative bleeding was evaluated. Blood loss was significantly higher (p = 0.027, r = 0.397) for patients with higher BMI. Treatment by local application of PHA to potential bleeding sites significantly reduced blood loss-314 +/- A 151 ml (50-600) for the right knees versus 468 +/- A 140 ml (150-700) for the left knees (p = 0.007) in group 1; 420 +/- A 251 ml (100-900) for the right knees versus 620 +/- A 229 ml (350-1125) for the left knees (p = 0.036) in group 2. Blood loss reduction between the right and left knees was no different between the two groups (p = 0.173). By reducing blood loss and the need for postoperative blood transfusion in patients with high BMI, PHA can be of value as adjuvant therapy in new blood-management procedures in major joint-replacement surgery.