Pre-operative injections of epoetin-alpha versus post-operative retransfusion of autologous shed blood in total hip and knee replacement - prospective randomised clinical trial

100 patients scheduled to undergo elective total hip or knee replacement, presenting with osteoarthritis were randomized to either receive pre-operative injections of epoetin-alpha (Eprex) or post-operative autologous blood retransfusions using the Bellovac system. These patients exhibited pre-operative haemoglobin levels between 10.0 g/dl and 13.0 g/dl. The results indicated that injections of epoetin-alpha were more effective than post-operative cell saving (Bellovac) in reducing the need for allogenic blood transfusions following total joint replacement. It is imperative to note that epoetin-alpha injection was a more expensive treatment than autolous blood retransfusion.