Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine
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Technol Health Care · Jan 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of tourniquet release timing on perioperative blood loss in simultaneous bilateral cemented total knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomized study.
Today the use of pneumatic tourniquet is commonly accepted in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to reduce perioperative blood loss. There are a few prospective randomised and nonrandomised studies that compare the effect of tourniquet release timing in cementless or cemented unilateral TKA. However, many of these studies show an inadequate reporting and methodology. ⋯ Other studies report an increase the blood loss in early tourniquet release and an increase the risk of early postoperative complications in deflation of tourniquet after wound closure. In this study we found no significant difference in perioperative blood loss and no increase of postoperative complications. Therefore, we recommend a tourniquet release after wound closure to reduce the duration of TKA procedure and to avoid possible risks of extended anaesthesia.