P119. Does the use of IV tranexamic acid impact postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion?

Abstract

<h3>BACKGROUND CONTEXT</h3> Spinal surgery is often complicated by significant blood loss which can lead to increased patient morbidity and mortality. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a synthetic antifibrinolytic agent that has shown promise in decreasing blood loss as well as need for postoperative blood transfusion when given during surgery. <h3>PURPOSE</h3> Recent studies have begun to report on the benefits of TXA when given perioperatively during spinal surgery2. Few studies, however, have looked at the effects of TXA in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). In this study we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of TXA in reducing intraoperative blood loss in a cohort of ACDF patients. <h3>STUDY DESIGN/SETTING</h3> Retrospective, single-surgeon study at academic medical center. <h3>PATIENT SAMPLE</h3> All patients who underwent primary ACDF during this time either with or without the augment of TXA were included. <h3>OUTCOME MEASURES</h3> The mean differences in intraoperative blood loss as well as the change from pre to post-surgical hemoglobin and hematocrit, measured at presurgical testing 1 week prior to surgery and on postop day 1 were analyzed in TXA-treated patients compared to non-TXA-treated patients. Additionally, the number of patients requiring postoperative drain and average drain output on postoperative day #1 were measured. Mean length of stay in between groups was also analyzed. This study was subject to IRB approval. <h3>METHODS</h3> Medical records for all patients who underwent primary ACDF with a single surgeon at a tertiary center over a 3-year period from September 2016-October 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. <h3>RESULTS</h3> A total of 83 patients underwent primary ACDF during the study period. Three additional patients who underwent revision of ACDF were excluded for the purposes of this study. Of the 83 patients who underwent primary ACDF, 14 received TXA perioperatively while 69 did not receive TXA. Preoperative diagnoses included spinal stenosis, disc herniation, and spondylolisthesis. Distribution of diagnoses was equal among study groups. Patient demographics and comorbidities including age, BMI, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes and smoking status were evaluated and there were no significant differences between groups. Patients who received TXA had significantly lower mean operative blood loss than the non-TXA patients (41.1mL vs 77.4mL p<.05). There was, however, no significant difference in postoperative drop in hemoglobin (0.7 vs 1.0, p=.332) or hematocrit (0.0, 1.8, p=.392) between the two groups. A total of 49 patients in the non-TXA group (71%) required drain placement while 6 patients in the TXA group (43%) had a drain placed (p=.062). There was a trend towards decreased drain output on postop day 1 in the TXA group compared to the non-TXA group (32.3mL vs 40.8mL, p=.056), however it was not significant. There was also no significant difference in average length of stay between TXA and non-TXA patients (3.2 vs 3.6 days, p=.564). <h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3> TXA has been reported as a useful perioperative tool to decrease bleeding associated with spinal surgery. We found in our patients who underwent ACDF that intraoperative use of IV TXA led to a significant decrease in intraoperative blood loss, however, there was no difference in the change in pre and postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit between ACDF patients who received TXA and those who did not. There was also no difference in mean postoperative length-of-stay between the TXA and non-TXA groups. Additionally, while not significant, there was a trend towards TXA patients being less likely to require a drain postoperatively (p=.062) and those requiring a drain having less output in the early postoperative period (p=.056). While use of TXA perioperatively for ACDF was shown in this study to decrease operative blood loss, this change was not reflected in surgical hemoglobin change or overall length of stay. Further analysis of the benefits of TXA on bleeding in ACDF patients is warranted. <h3>FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS</h3> This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.