associated with significant morbidity.2 Perioperative Anaemia in Elective Joint Replacements A recently published consensus statement provides new Neil Brown, Jacqui Howes, Marian recommendations for best clinical MacKinnon practice in this area.3 Department of Anaesthesia, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness The elective joint replacement service presents a large population of purely Introduction elective patients undergoing major surgery, with potential for intervention Anaemia is known to be an to optimise preoperative condition. independent risk factor for Preoperative anaemia is common, and complications.1 Blood time spent on the waiting list could be transfusion is an expensive therapy used to investigate and correct any
Perioperative Anaemia in Elective Joint Replacements Neil Brown, Jacqui Howes, Marian MacKinnon Department of Anaesthesia, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness Introduction Anaemia is known to be an independent risk factor for complications.1 Blood transfusion is an expensive therapy associated with significant morbidity.2 A recently published consensus statement provides new recommendations for best clinical practice in this area.3 The elective joint replacement service presents a large population of purely elective patients undergoing major surgery, with potential for intervention to optimise preoperative condition. Preoperative anaemia is common, and time spent on the waiting list could be used to investigate and correct any
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