Prehospital Administration Of Tranexamic Acid Research Articles

Prehospital tranexamic acid is associated with a survival benefit without an increase in complications: results of two harmonized randomized clinical trials.

Recent randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that prehospital tranexamic acid (TXA) administration following injury is safe and improves survival. However, the effect of prehospital TXA on adverse events, transfusion requirements and any dose response relationships require further elucidation. A secondary analysis was performed using harmonized data from two large, double-blinded, randomized prehospital TXA trials. Outcomes, including 28-day mortality, pertinent adverse events and 24-hour red cell transfusion requirements were compared between TXA and placebo groups. Regression analyses were utilized to determine the independent associations of TXA after adjusting for study enrollment, injury characteristics and shock severity across a broad spectrum of injured patients. Dose response relationships were similarly characterized based upon grams of prehospital TXA administered. A total of 1744 patients had data available for secondary analysis and were included in the current harmonized secondary analysis. The study cohort had an overall mortality of 11.2% and a median injury severity score of 16 (IQR: 5-26). TXA was independently associated with a lower risk of 28-day mortality (HR: 0.72, 95% CI 0.54, 0.96, p = 0.03). Prehospital TXA also demonstrated an independent 22% lower risk of mortality for every gram of prehospital TXA administered (HR: 0.78, 95% CI 0.63, 0.96, p = 0.02). Multivariable linear regression verified that patients who received TXA were independently associated with lower 24-hour red cell transfusion requirements (β: -0.31, 95% CI -0.61, -0.01, p = 0.04) with a dose-response relationship (β: -0.24, 95% CI -0.45, -0.02, p = 0.03). There was no independent association of prehospital TXA administration on VTE, seizure, or stroke. In this secondary analysis of harmonized data from two large randomized interventional trials, prehospital TXA administration across a broad spectrum of injured patients is safe. Prehospital TXA is associated with a significant 28-day survival benefit, lower red cell transfusion requirements at 24 hours and demonstrates a dose-response relationship. Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

Pre-Hospital Administration of Tranexamic Acid Demonstrates a Significant Reduction in Subsequent Blood Product Transfusion Requirements for Patients Presenting With Acute Type A Aortic Dissection

Pre-Hospital Administration of Tranexamic Acid Demonstrates a Significant Reduction in Subsequent Blood Product Transfusion Requirements for Patients Presenting With Acute Type A Aortic Dissection

Research

The February 2024 Research Roundup360 looks at: If you use a surgical helmet, you should seal your gown-glove interface; The use of iodophor-impregnated drapes in patients with iodine-related allergies: a case series and review of the literature; Location of the ovaries in children and efficacy of gonadal shielding in hip and pelvis radiography; Prehospital tranexamic acid administration does not improve outcomes in severe trauma patients; Silver-coated distal femur megaprosthesis in chronic infections with severe bone loss: a multicentre case series.

The Effectiveness of Prehospital Administration of Tranexamic Acid in Reducing Mortality in Trauma Patients: An Overview.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic drug that reduces bleeding by inhibiting plasminogen activation and fibrin clot degradation. Its role in prehospital trauma management remains unclear. This article aims to systematically review the current evidence on the effect of prehospital TXA administration on mortality in adult and pediatric trauma patients. A literature search was conducted of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from March 2023 to August 2023 for studies evaluating the impact of prehospital TXA use on trauma mortality. Inclusion criteria were articles published in the English language in the past 20 years focusing on clinical outcomes of prehospital TXA administration. Data on all-cause mortality, thromboembolic events, and time to TXA administration were extracted. In adult trauma, prehospital TXA appears to reduce early all-cause mortality when given within three hours of injury without increasing thromboembolic risks. Some studies found decreased delayed mortality, while others found no difference. In pediatric trauma, preliminary evidence suggests TXA may lower in-hospital mortality in hemodynamically unstable patients, though higher doses may increase seizure risk. Early prehospital administration of TXA within three hours of adult trauma may reduce mortality through improved hemorrhage control. Potential benefits in pediatric trauma warrant further investigation, balancing efficacy against safety risks such as seizures from high doses. Well-designed randomized trials are needed to validate optimal TXA dosing strategies across age groups and injury severity levels.

Tranexamic Acid for Trauma Care: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Mortality and Thromboembolic Events in Severely Injured Patients

Introduction : Tranexamic Acid (TXA) is an anti-fibrinolytic agent that inhibits fibrinolysis and prevents blood clot breakdown. Widely used to manage hemorrhage in various clinical scenarios, including trauma, menorrhagia, bleeding in hemophilia, cardiac surgery, and orthopedic surgery, its impact on morbidity and mortality in severely injured patients necessitates an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Our study aimed to evaluate the association of TXA with mortality and thromboembolic events in trauma patients. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search on PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar up to July 2023, focusing on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adult trauma patients receiving Tranexamic Acid (TXA) compared to standard care or placebo. Primary outcomes included mortality rates and thromboembolic event incidence. Statistical analyses used Review Manager Software (RevMan, version 5.3) with the Mantel-Haenszel random-effect model. Results : A total of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 36,416 patients were included in this meta-analysis, comparing Tranexamic Acid (TXA) to control (placebo or standard care). The mean age of the included patients was 39 years. The analysis focused on various patient categories, including multiple trauma versus predominantly traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients, severely injured ( Injury Severity Score ,ISS ≥ 16, massive transfusion requirement, signs of shock) versus non-severely injured patients, blunt versus penetrating versus burn trauma, in-hospital versus prehospital TXA administration, and TXA administration within 3 hours versus beyond 3 hours of injury. The meta-analysis showed that TXA administration was not significantly associated with mortality (odds ratio: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.76 to 1.27, p = 0.89), with moderate heterogeneity observed (I 2 = 56%). However, TXA use demonstrated a significant reduction in the incidence of thromboembolic events (odds ratio: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.84 to 0.95, p = 0.0002), with no significant heterogeneity (I 2 = 0%). (Figure 1 & 2) Conclusion TXA administration was not significantly associated with mortality in patients with significant trauma; however, it significantly reduced thromboembolic events, suggesting its potential benefit in preventing such complications. Further research is needed to explore its efficacy and safety in specific patient categories and administration settings to optimize its use in trauma care.

Guidelines for Prehospital Management of Traumatic Brain Injury 3rd Edition: Executive Summary.

Prehospital care markedly influences outcome from traumatic brain injury, yet it remains highly variable. The Brain Trauma Foundation's guidelines informing prehospital care, first published in 2002, have sought to identify and disseminate best practices. Many of its recommendations relate to the management of airway, breathing and circulation, and infrastructure for this care. Compliance with the second edition of these guidelines has been associated with significantly improved survival. A working group developed evidence-based recommendations informing assessment, treatment, and transport decision-making relevant to the prehospital care of brain injured patients. A literature search spanning May 2005 to January 2022 supplemented data contained in the 2nd edition. Identified studies were assessed for quality and used to inform evidence-based recommendations. A total of 122 published articles formed the evidentiary base for this guideline update including 5 providing Class I evidence, 35 providing Class II evidence, and 98 providing Class III evidence for the various topics. Forty evidence-based recommendations were generated, 30 of which were strong and 10 of which were weak. In many cases, new evidence allowed guidelines from the 2nd edition to be strengthened. Development of guidelines on some new topics was possible including the prehospital administration of tranexamic acid. A management algorithm is also presented. These guidelines help to identify best practices for prehospital traumatic brain injury care, and they also identify gaps in knowledge which we hope will be addressed before the next edition.

Prehospital Tranexamic Acid for Severe Trauma

BackgroundWhether prehospital administration of tranexamic acid increases the likelihood of survival with a favorable functional outcome among patients with major trauma and suspected trauma-induced coagulopathy who are being treated in advanced trauma systems is uncertain.MethodsWe randomly assigned adults with major trauma who were at risk for trauma-induced coagulopathy to receive tranexamic acid (administered intravenously as a bolus dose of 1 g before hospital admission, followed by a 1-g infusion over a period of 8 hours after arrival at the hospital) or matched placebo. The primary outcome was survival with a favorable functional outcome at 6 months after injury, as assessed with the use of the Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended (GOS-E). Levels on the GOS-E range from 1 (death) to 8 (“upper good recovery” [no injury-related problems]). We defined survival with a favorable functional outcome as a GOS-E level of 5 (“lower moderate disability”) or higher. Secondary outcomes included death from any cause within 28 days and within 6 months after injury.ResultsA total of 1310 patients were recruited by 15 emergency medical services in Australia, New Zealand, and Germany. Of these patients, 661 were assigned to receive tranexamic acid, and 646 were assigned to receive placebo; the trial-group assignment was unknown for 3 patients. Survival with a favorable functional outcome at 6 months occurred in 307 of 572 patients (53.7%) in the tranexamic acid group and in 299 of 559 (53.5%) in the placebo group (risk ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90 to 1.12; P=0.95). At 28 days after injury, 113 of 653 patients (17.3%) in the tranexamic acid group and 139 of 637 (21.8%) in the placebo group had died (risk ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.99). By 6 months, 123 of 648 patients (19.0%) in the tranexamic acid group and 144 of 629 (22.9%) in the placebo group had died (risk ratio, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.67 to 1.03). The number of serious adverse events, including vascular occlusive events, did not differ meaningfully between the groups.ConclusionsAmong adults with major trauma and suspected trauma-induced coagulopathy who were being treated in advanced trauma systems, prehospital administration of tranexamic acid followed by an infusion over 8 hours did not result in a greater number of patients surviving with a favorable functional outcome at 6 months than placebo. (Funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and others; PATCH-Trauma ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02187120.)

Spotlight on Research

Journal of Paramedic PracticeVol. 15, No. 6 Spotlight on ResearchSpotlight on ResearchGregory A. Whitley, Pete GregoryGregory A. WhitleyParamedic Research Fellow, East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Lecturer in Paramedic Science, University of Lincoln, UKSearch for more papers by this author, Pete GregoryAssociate Dean and Head of School of Allied Health and Midwifery, University of Wolverhampton, UKSearch for more papers by this authorGregory A. Whitley; Pete GregoryPublished Online:2 Jun 2023https://doi.org/10.12968/jpar.2023.15.6.261AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail View article References Whitley GA, Wijegoonewardene N, Nelson D, Curtis, F, Ortega M, Siriwardena AN. Patient, family member, and ambulance staff experiences of prehospital acute pain management in adults: a systematic review and meta-synthesis. JACEP Open. 2023; 4:e12940. https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12940 Crossref, Google ScholarGulickx M, Lokerman RD, Waalwijk JF et al.. Pre-hospital tranexamic acid administration in patients with a severe hemorrhage: an evaluation after the implementation of tranexamic acid administration in the Dutch pre-hospital protocol. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-023-02262-4 Crossref, Google Scholar FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 2 June 2023Volume 15Issue 6ISSN (print): 1759-1376ISSN (online): 2041-9457 Metrics History Published online 2 June 2023 Published in print 2 June 2023 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedPDF download

Factors that influence the administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) to trauma patients in prehospital settings: a systematic review

ObjectiveIn the UK there are around 5400 deaths annually from injury. Tranexamic acid (TXA) prevents bleeding and has been shown to reduce trauma mortality. However, only 5% of UK major...

Pre-hospital tranexamic acid administration in patients with a severe hemorrhage: an evaluation after the implementation of tranexamic acid administration in the Dutch pre-hospital protocol

PurposeTo evaluate the pre-hospital administration of tranexamic acid in ambulance-treated trauma patients with a severe hemorrhage after the implementation of tranexamic acid administration in the Dutch pre-hospital protocol.MethodsAll patients with a severe hemorrhage who were treated and conveyed by EMS professionals between January 2015, and December 2017, to any trauma-receiving emergency department in the eight participating trauma regions in the Netherlands, were included. A severe hemorrhage was defined as extracranial injury with > 20% body volume blood loss, an extremity amputation above the wrist or ankle, or a grade ≥ 4 visceral organ injury. The main outcome was to determine the proportion of patients with a severe hemorrhage who received pre-hospital treatment with tranexamic acid. A Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was performed to investigate the relationship between pre-hospital tranexamic acid treatment and 24 h mortality.ResultsA total of 477 patients had a severe hemorrhage, of whom 124 patients (26.0%) received tranexamic acid before arriving at the hospital. More than half (58.4%) of the untreated patients were suspected of a severe hemorrhage by EMS professionals. Patients treated with tranexamic acid had a significantly lower risk on 24 h mortality than untreated patients (OR 0.43 [95% CI 0.19–0.97]).ConclusionApproximately a quarter of the patients with a severe hemorrhage received tranexamic acid before arriving at the hospital, while a severe hemorrhage was suspected in more than half of the non-treated patients. Severely hemorrhaging patients treated with tranexamic acid before arrival at the hospital had a lower risk to die within 24 h after injury.

Prehospital Tranexamic Acid Administration in Pediatric Trauma Patients: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of the Israeli Defense Forces Registry.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) administration confers a survival benefit in bleeding trauma patients; however, data regarding its use in pediatric patients are limited. This study evaluates the prehospital treatment with TXA in pediatric trauma patients treated by the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps (IDF-MC). Retrospective, cohort study using the Israel Defense Forces registry, 2011-2021. Pediatric trauma patients less than 18 years old. We excluded patients pronounced dead at the scene. None. All cases of pediatric trauma in the registry were assessed for treatment with TXA. Propensity score matching was used to assess the association between prehospital TXA administration and mortality. Overall, 911 pediatric trauma patients were treated with TXA by the IDF-MC teams; the median (interquartile) age was 10 years (5-15 yr), and 72.8% were male. Seventy patients (7.6%) received TXA, with 52 of 70 (74%) receiving a 1,000 mg dose (range 200-1,000 mg). There were no prehospital adverse events associated with the use of TXA (upper limit of 95% CI for 0/70 is 4.3%). Compared with pediatric patients who did not receive TXA, patients receiving TXA were more likely to suffer from shock (40% vs 10.7%; p < 0.001), sustain more penetrating injuries (72.9% vs 31.7%; p < 0.001), be treated with plasma or crystalloids (62.9% vs 11.4%; p < 0.001), and undergo more lifesaving interventions (24.3% vs 6.2%; p < 0.001). The propensity score matching failed to identify an association between TXA and lesser odds of mortality, although a lack of effect (or even adverse effect) could not be excluded (non-TXA: 7.1% vs TXA: 4.3%, odds ratio = 0.584; 95% CI 0.084-3.143; p = 0.718). Although prehospital TXA administration in the pediatric population is feasible with adverse event rate under 5%, more research is needed to determine the appropriate approach to pediatric hemostatic resuscitation and the role of TXA in this population.

Prehospital Tranexamic Acid (TXA) in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a significant medical and socioeconomic challenge. The initial injury may be complicated by haemostatic derangements leading to exacerbation of lesions and haemorrhagic progression. The results from the CRASH-3 trial have promoted the implementation of the antifibrinolytic tranexamic acid (TXA) into prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) protocols. Very recently, the efficacy and safety of early out-of-hospital TXA compared to placebo was assessed in patients with moderate or severe TBI in a prospective, multicenter phase II trial, e.g. "The Prehospital TXA for TBI"-trial. Simultaneously, the results from a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected observational data into the Dutch pre-hospital TBI database were published which had assessed whether prehospital administration of TXA may be associated with mortality and functional outcomes in patients with severe TBI. Both studies are reviewed against their limitations and windows of opportunity are highlighted.

Pre-hospital administration of tranexamic acid in trauma patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The Clinical Randomization of an Antifibrinolytic in Significant Hemorrhage-2 (CRASH-2) trial proved that tranexamic acid (TXA) is a time-dependent drug, having a better outcome if given within 1-hour of injury. In order to test this theory, studies have been conducted to examine the effect of TXA in the pre-hospital setting. We conducted a systematic search and meta-analysis to evaluate the role of TXA administration in the civilian pre-hospital setting on patient outcomes. Methods Embase, Medline, CINAHL and Cochrane were searched for randomized control trials (RCTs), retrospective, and prospective studies that examined the effect of TXA on patients in the pre-hospital setting versus a control group. Outcome measures were overall mortality rate and thromboembolic events. Two authors extracted the data independently. To appraise the included studies, we used the NIH quality assessment tool for cohort and cross-sectional studies. Results are presented as Risk Ratio (RR), a random-effect model was implemented, and the I2 test was used to assess heterogeneity. Results The search identified 1886 papers, but only five retrospective studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria and were selected for further analysis. A meta-analysis confirmed that TXA reduced the overall mortality rate (pooled risk ratio of 0.74 (95% CI 0.45, 1.25)) and thromboembolic events (risk ratio of 0.71 (95% CI 0.35, 1.44)). Conclusion The pooled effects for both outcome measures favour the administration of TXA in the pre-hospital setting, although none of the findings reported a significant effect. Our study highlights the need for additional high-quality evidence to validate the significance of these findings. Level of evidence Level III, therapeutic study.

Early prehospital administration of tranexamic acid in hemorrhagic trauma is associated with increased survival as an independent variable.

Garcés Garcés, Francisco José; Corral Torres, Ervigio; Simoes da Silva Pereira, Edite Joao; Hernández-Tejedor, Alberto Author Information

Assessing the clinical utilization of tranexamic acid by paramedics for patients with major trauma (ACUTE).

This study aimed to characterize the clinical utilization of tranexamic acid (TXA) by paramedics in British Columbia (BC) for acute major trauma and to quantify the percentage of patients who received TXA among those who met the indications for administration. A quality assurance review of eligible trauma patients across the province was performed using a convenience sample. Trauma patients between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017 with suspected or actual hemorrhage were selected if they met inclusion criteria (systolic blood pressure < 90mm Hg ± heart rate > 120 beats per minute) and exclusion criteria (age < 16years, injuries exclusively to the extremities). 35 of the 100 eligible patients assessed in this review received a dose of TXA from paramedics. All 35 of the patients received TXA within 180min of injury regardless of their original location of injury in BC (mean: 50min; range: 15-140min). 35% of eligible patients identified in this study received TXA, which is an improvement over rates cited by previous Canadian literature. With further education opportunities for paramedics in BC and other EMS systems, there is potential to continue improving pre-hospital TXA administration rates.

Association Between Prehospital Tranexamic Acid Administration and Outcomes of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

The development and expansion of intracranial hematoma are associated with adverse outcomes. Use of tranexamic acid might limit intracranial hematoma formation, but its association with outcomes of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is unclear. To assess whether prehospital administration of tranexamic acid is associated with mortality and functional outcomes in a group of patients with severe TBI. This multicenter cohort study is an analysis of prospectively collected observational data from the Brain Injury: Prehospital Registry of Outcome, Treatments and Epidemiology of Cerebral Trauma (BRAIN-PROTECT) study in the Netherlands. Patients treated for suspected severe TBI by the Dutch Helicopter Emergency Medical Services between February 2012 and December 2017 were included. Patients were followed up for 1 year after inclusion. Data were analyzed from January 10, 2020, to September 10, 2020. Administration of tranexamic acid during prehospital treatment. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included mortality at 1 year, functional neurological recovery at discharge (measured by Glasgow Outcome Scale), and length of hospital stay. Data were also collected on demographic factors, preinjury medical condition, injury characteristics, operational characteristics, and prehospital vital parameters. A total of 1827 patients were analyzed, of whom 1283 (70%) were male individuals and the median (interquartile range) age was 45 (23-65) years. In the unadjusted analysis, higher 30-day mortality was observed in patients who received prehospital tranexamic acid (odds ratio [OR], 1.34; 95% CI, 1.16-1.55; P < .001), compared with patients who did not receive prehospital tranexamic acid. After adjustment for confounders, no association between prehospital administration of tranexamic acid and mortality was found across the entire cohort of patients. However, a substantial increase in the odds of 30-day mortality persisted in patients with severe isolated TBI who received prehospital tranexamic acid (OR, 4.49; 95% CI, 1.57-12.87; P = .005) and after multiple imputations (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.22-3.45; P = .007). This study found that prehospital tranexamic acid administration was associated with increased mortality in patients with isolated severe TBI, suggesting the judicious use of the drug when no evidence for extracranial hemorrhage is present.

Predictive Factors for Massive Transfusion in Trauma: A Novel Clinical Score from an Italian Trauma Center and German Trauma Registry.

Early management of critical bleeding and coagulopathy can improve patient survival. The aim of our study was to identify independent predictors of critical bleeding and to build a clinical score for early risk stratification. A prospective analysis was performed on a cohort of trauma patients with at least one hypotensive episode during pre-hospital (PH) care or in the Emergency Department (ED). Patients who received massive transfusion (MT+) (≥4 blood units during the first hour) were compared to those who did not (MT−). Hemodynamics, Glagow Coma Score (GCS), diagnostics and blood tests were evaluated. Using multivariate analysis, we created and validated a predictive score for MT+ patients. The predictive score was validated on a matched cohort of patients of the German Trauma Registry TR-DGU. One hundred thirty-nine patients were included. Independent predictors of MT+ included a prehospital (PH) GCS of 3, PH administration of tranexamic acid, hypotension and tachycardia upon admission, coagulopathy and injuries with significant bleeding such as limb amputation, hemoperitoneum, pelvic fracture, massive hemothorax. The derived predictive score revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.854. Massive transfusion is essential to damage control resuscitation. Altered GCS, unstable hemodynamics, coagulopathy and bleeding injuries can allow early identification of patients at risk for critical hemorrhage.

Tranexamic Acid During Prehospital Transport in Patients at Risk for Hemorrhage After Injury

In-hospital administration of tranexamic acid after injury improves outcomes in patients at risk for hemorrhage. Data demonstrating the benefit and safety of the pragmatic use of tranexamic acid in the prehospital phase of care are lacking for these patients. To assess the effectiveness and safety of tranexamic acid administered before hospitalization compared with placebo in injured patients at risk for hemorrhage. This pragmatic, phase 3, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, superiority randomized clinical trial included injured patients with prehospital hypotension (systolic blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg) or tachycardia (heart rate ≥110/min) before arrival at 1 of 4 US level 1 trauma centers, within an estimated 2 hours of injury, from May 1, 2015, through October 31, 2019. Patients received 1 g of tranexamic acid before hospitalization (447 patients) or placebo (456 patients) infused for 10 minutes in 100 mL of saline. The randomization scheme used prehospital and in-hospital phase assignments, and patients administered tranexamic acid were allocated to abbreviated, standard, and repeat bolus dosing regimens on trauma center arrival. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. In all, 927 patients (mean [SD] age, 42 [18] years; 686 [74.0%] male) were eligible for prehospital enrollment (460 randomized to tranexamic acid intervention; 467 to placebo intervention). After exclusions, the intention-to-treat study cohort comprised 903 patients: 447 in the tranexamic acid arm and 456 in the placebo arm. Mortality at 30 days was 8.1% in patients receiving tranexamic acid compared with 9.9% in patients receiving placebo (difference, -1.8%; 95% CI, -5.6% to 1.9%; P = .17). Results of Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, accounting for site, verified that randomization to tranexamic acid was not associated with a significant reduction in 30-day mortality (hazard ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.59-1.11, P = .18). Prespecified dosing regimens and post-hoc subgroup analyses found that prehospital tranexamic acid were associated with significantly lower 30-day mortality. When comparing tranexamic acid effect stratified by time to treatment and qualifying shock severity in a post hoc comparison, 30-day mortality was lower when tranexamic acid was administered within 1 hour of injury (4.6% vs 7.6%; difference, -3.0%; 95% CI, -5.7% to -0.3%; P < .002). Patients with severe shock (systolic blood pressure ≤70 mm Hg) who received tranexamic acid demonstrated lower 30-day mortality compared with placebo (18.5% vs 35.5%; difference, -17%; 95% CI, -25.8% to -8.1%; P < .003). In injured patients at risk for hemorrhage, tranexamic acid administered before hospitalization did not result in significantly lower 30-day mortality. The prehospital administration of tranexamic acid after injury did not result in a higher incidence of thrombotic complications or adverse events. Tranexamic acid given to injured patients at risk for hemorrhage in the prehospital setting is safe and associated with survival benefit in specific subgroups of patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02086500.

Prehospital Administration of Tranexamic Acid in Patients with Head Injury

The CRASH-3 trial touted reduced mortality in patients with mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) who received tranexamic acid (TXA; NEJM JW

Tranexamic acid and international ambulance services

Introduction: Severe haemorrhage may lead to pathologic release of fibrinolytic enzymes, which break down blood clots. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a drug that inhibits the fibrinolysis of blood clots. Aim: The purpose of this review is to explore current literature regarding prehospital TXA administration for patients suffering severe haemorrhage following trauma, and to discuss whether this drug should be more widely used across modern international ambulance services. Methods: Literature searches of EBSCO Host, ProQuest and PubMed databases were conducted in August, 2019. Results: TXA administration within 3 hours following injury is associated with improved outcomes for severe haemorrhage patients. However, there are reservations that the success of TXA in developing countries and military settings may not be directly transferrable to the modern civilian healthcare systems. Discussion: The benefits of prehospital TXA administration appear compelling. Further studies will help guide wider international implementation of this drug in paramedic practice.