Re: Re: I'd like

[Guest guest]

so how would they know if a person was bleeding to death????????????????????????????? YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ann:This is my thinking on it. I think I am right but I am not a surgeon. Generally they don't want a lot of bleeding because they can't seewhat they are doing and they don't want you to bleed to death. Therewill always be some bleeding but it is not as much as you think if itis addressed right after the opening. When they prepare the bones forthe new joints (hip/knees/shoulders) the bone needs to be cut toreceive the new member. The bone is full of cavities with bloodflowing thru it. Also in the center the marrow is were new bloodcells are being made. So this huge cut surface on the end of the boneis bleeding continually for a while. The bone is hard so you can'tbut a turniket(sp)on like soft tissue.When I had my knee done last week they put a drain in it. I filled upa 800ML thing with blood. They transfused that back into me and Ifilled about 400ML before the drain stopped draining. I figure thatwas mostly from the exposed bone ends.Of course there could be other factors that I am not aware of andanyone is welcome to pipe end.Don 8^)

[Guest guest]

Hi Lindy, I am a nurse anesthetist, and have given my

share of anesthesia for joint replacements over the last 37 years.

I now work in an out patient surgical center. We don't do joint

replacements on a one day stay YET. It may come to that but

not yet.

OK now to address some of your worries and concerns. A tourniquet

is most often used for a knee replacements but not for hip surgery.

No place to put the tourniquet for hip surgery. Don, you are right

you can not stop the bleeding from the femur completely because it gets

its blood supply from above where the tourniquet is placed and bone is

too hard to squeeze shut. But the bleeding from the tibia is

controlled by the tourniquet.

Now what about the blood that is lost during surgery? Well that is

part of my job as the nurse anesthetist to keep track of the amount of

loss and replace it, either with blood or other fluids. I also

watch the patients blood pressure, pulse and other vital signs and do

what ever is necessary to maintain stability.

Not to worry, You are in good hands.

Larry

At 02:05 PM 12/13/2006, you wrote:

so how would they know if a

person was bleeding to death?????????????????????????????

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ann:

This is my thinking on it. I think I am right but I am not a

surgeon.

Generally they don't want a lot of bleeding because they can't

see

what they are doing and they don't want you to bleed to death.

There

will always be some bleeding but it is not as much as you think if

it

is addressed right after the opening. When they prepare the

bones for

the new joints (hip/knees/shoulders) the bone needs to be cut to

receive the new member. The bone is full of cavities with

blood

flowing thru it. Also in the center the marrow is were new

blood

cells are being made. So this huge cut surface on the end of the

bone

is bleeding continually for a while. The bone is hard so you

can't

but a turniket(sp)on like soft tissue.

When I had my knee done last week they put a drain in it. I

filled up

a 800ML thing with blood. They transfused that back into me and

I

filled about 400ML before the drain stopped draining. I figure

that

was mostly from the exposed bone ends.

Of course there could be other factors that I am not aware of

and

anyone is welcome to pipe end.

Don 8^)

[Guest guest]

Larry,

Wow, are we lucky to have you here. I bet you know everything about these replacement surgeries.

Thanks for this info, it's comforting to know.

Also, in my brochures and info the doctor gave me is a pamphlet re: blood replacement from one's own lost blood (forget what it is called), so, they will be doing this for me which makes me feel good.

Love and Hugs,Lindy LouRight THR 1/22/2007

Hi Lindy, I am a nurse anesthetist, and have given my share of anesthesia for joint replacements over the last 37 years. I now work in an out patient surgical center. We don't do joint replacements on a one day stay YET. It may come to that but not yet.OK now to address some of your worries and concerns. A tourniquet is most often used for a knee replacements but not for hip surgery. No place to put the tourniquet for hip surgery. Don, you are right you can not stop the bleeding from the femur completely because it gets its blood supply from above where the tourniquet is placed and bone is too hard to squeeze shut. But the bleeding from the tibia is controlled by the tourniquet.Now what about the blood that is lost during surgery? Well that is part of my job as the nurse anesthetist to keep track of the amount of loss and replace it, either with blood or other fluids. I also watch the patients blood pressure, pulse and other vital signs and do what ever is necessary to maintain stability.Not to worry, You are in good hands.Larry