Smith 2007.
Methods | A prospective, randomised study was conducted to analyse differences in post‐operative haemoglobin levels and allogeneic blood requirements in patients undergoing primary total hip replacement (THR). Between December 2003 and December 2005, consecutive patients undergoing elective primary THR for arthritis at Weston General Hospital were enrolled. The patients were block randomised (computer‐generated) to one of two groups from sealed envelopes opened by a nurse after reduction of the prosthesis. | |
Participants | 190 patients undergoing elective primary total hip replacement were randomised to one of two groups:
NB: From the 190 patients who agreed to participate, 158 sets of complete data were obtained. There were 22 incomplete haemoglobin (Hb) values and 10 patients did not fulfil the inclusion criteria. |
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Interventions |
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Outcomes | Outcomes reported: number of patients transfused allogeneic blood, amount of allogeneic blood transfused, volume of blood re‐transfused from the cell saver, hospital length of stay, adverse events. | |
Notes | Transfusion threshold: the individual orthopaedic team decided whether to give allogeneic blood transfusion. Local practice was to give two units if the post‐operative Hb was less than 8.0g/dL or if patients were symptomatic with Hb in the range of 8.0g/dL to 10.0g/dL. | |
Risk of bias | ||
Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | Method used to generate allocation sequences was adequate. |
Allocation concealment (selection bias) | High risk | Method used to conceal treatment allocation was inadequate. |
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes | High risk |