ACE-Inhibitor Effects on Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients

Effects of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors on Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of Angiotension Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE-I) during surgery and in the immediate postoperative period for patients undergoing elective total hip or knee arthroplasty.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients electing to undergo primary or revision total hip or knee arthroplasty
• Currently taking an ACE-I

Exclusion Criteria:

• Trauma patients
• Immunosuppressed patients (HIV/AIDS, organ transplant recipients, chemotherapy patients, chronic steroid use)
• Patients with history of severe hypertension related illness such as hypertension associated with stroke or myocardial infarction
• Patients in who continuation of their ACE-I is expressly mandated by their prescribing physician