Activation of plasma coagulation by retransfusion of unwashed drainage blood after hip joint arthroplasty

Twelve patients undergoing cementless hip joint arthroplasty were retransfused with unwashed drainage blood collected postoperatively. Global coagulation parameters, coagulation factors (factor V:C, factor VIII:C, activated factor XII, and factor XIII) and markers of thrombin generation (F1+2 Fibrin split products, thrombin-antithrombin complexes), fibrin generation (fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products), and fibrinolysis (D-dimers, thrombin degradation products, plasminogen) were determined. High levels of factor XIIa, thrombin and fibrin generation markers, and markers of fibrinolysis were present in the shed blood. After retransfusion (mean, 433 mL), increased levels of these markers together with decreased values for factor XIII and plasminogen were indicative of renewed clot formation and fibrinolysis in the circulation. These changes were highly significant compared with preretransfusion values. The unwashed drainage blood contained high levels of procoagulation material and induced an activation of the plasma coagulation pathway with renewed clot formation and fibrinolysis in the patients.