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  • Title: Drain clamping in knee arthroplasty, a randomized controlled trial.
    Author: Raleigh E, Hing CB, Hanusiewicz AS, Fletcher SA, Price R.
    Journal: ANZ J Surg; 2007 May; 77(5):333-5. PubMed ID: 17497969.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether repeated clamping of a suction drainage system will result in less external blood loss, blood transfusion and no increase in complications compared to a routine continuous suction drainage system. This was a randomized prospective study on patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: Group A patients' drains were left clamped for all but 5 min (or 100 mL drainage) every 2 h for the first 6 h, then at 12-h and 24-h periods, when the drains were removed. Group B patients had continuous suction drainage. The amount of external blood loss, transfusion requirements and complications were compared between the two groups. The study group comprised 66 patients. RESULTS: The mean external blood loss in the clamped drain group was 296.67 mL (standard deviation 160.28 mL) with a mean drain in situ time of 32 h, significantly less (P < 0.05) than the continuous drain group that had a mean external blood loss of 796 mL (standard deviation 250.34 mL) with a mean drain in situ time of 34 h. There was no difference in the requirements for transfusion between the two groups. CONCLUSION: We conclude that clamping drains intermittently in hybrid total knee arthroplasty results in significantly less external blood loss with no change in morbidity or mortality. This study was a level 1 therapeutic study (i.e. with level of evidence randomized control trial with a significant difference).
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