National Comparative Audit of Blood Use in Elective Primary Unilateral Total Hip Replacement Surgery in the UK

Abstract

Pre-operative anaemia, lack of availability of transfusion protocols and use of different thresholds for transfusion may have contributed to the wide variation in transfusion rate. Effective measures to identify and correct pre-operative anaemia may decrease the need for transfusion. A consistent, evidence-based, transfusion threshold should be used and transfusion of more than one unit should only be given if essential to maintain haemoglobin concentrations above this threshold.