Tranexamic Acid and its Role in Total Knee Replacement

Abstract

Abstract: Tranexamic acid is a synthetic lysine derivative that inhibits the lysine binding sites on plasminogen molecules in order to have an antifibrinolytic action. In patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, tranexamic acid was related to mortality decreases of 5 to 54% when compared to placebo. A 40% reduction was found by meta-analysis. Tranexamic acid therapy reduced mean menstrual blood loss in menstruating women with menorrhagia by 34 to 57.9% in comparison to placebo or control; the medication has also been successfully used to treat placental bleeding, postpartum hemorrhage, and cervix conization. In hemophiliac patients undergoing oral surgery, tranexamic acid considerably decreased mean blood losses, and it worked well as a mouthwash for dental patients taking oral anticoagulants. With the administration of the medication, blood loss was also decreased in patients having orthotopic liver transplantation or transurethral prostate surgery, and rebleeding rates were decreased in patients with traumatic hyphaema. Patients with hereditary angioneurotic edema have also claimed clinical improvement from tranexamic acid. The most frequent adverse reactions to tranexamic acid are nausea and diarrhea. Clinical trials have not shown that the medication increases the risk of thrombosis