Topical Application Of Tranexamic Acid Research Articles

The early postoperative effects of rinsing the breast pocket with tranexamic acid in prepectoral prosthetic breast reconstruction

BackgroundThe efficacy of tranexamic acid (TXA) has been reported in breast surgery; however, its application and duration have varied across studies. This study aimed to assess the early postoperative outcomes of rinsing the breast pocket with TXA during prepectoral prosthetic breast reconstruction using an acellular dermal matrix (ADM). MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted in consecutive patients who underwent immediate prosthetic prepectoral reconstruction between August 2021 and December 2022 For cases performed during the earlier part of the study period (up to April 2022), TXA was not administered (non-TXA group), whereas those performed after April 2022 received topical TXA application during surgery (TXA group). Postoperative outcomes including hematoma, seroma, drainage volume, and drain maintenance duration were compared between the two groups using propensity score matching (PSM). ResultsA total of 674 breasts were analyzed; 280 in the TXA group and 394 were in the non-TXA group. There were 251 breasts in each group after PSM, and their characteristics were similar. The incidence of hematoma in the first 24hours and total drain output were significantly lower in the TXA group than the non-TXA group. In cases of direct-to-implant cases, the TXA group showed a significantly lower seroma rate. ConclusionsRinsing the breast pocket with TXA can potentially reduce the occurrence of hematoma and decrease drain output in prepectoral ADM-assisted prosthetic breast reconstruction. Moreover, this approach may be beneficial in lowering the incidence of seroma in direct-to-implant reconstruction.

Clinical efficacy of the topical application of tranexamic acid in tendon release in the hand: A randomized controlled trial

PurposeTo study the clinical effectiveness of the topical application of tranexamic acid in hand tendon release. MethodsThis was a randomized controlled trial conducted after receiving approval from the local ethics committee according to guidelines from the Helsinki Declaration. Eighty patients who underwent hand tendon release operation in our hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were included and randomly divided into 2 groups. Patients in the tranexamic acid group (40 cases) received intraoperative topical application of 2 g of tranexamic acid after tendon release, while patients in the conventional group (40 cases) did not receive topical application of tranexamic acid during operation. The operation time, perioperative hemoglobin changes, total blood loss, incidence of early postoperative complications, and total active movement (TAM) before surgery and 6 months after surgery were compared between the 2 groups. The continuous variable which follows normal distribution expressed by mean ± SD and used t-test to compare between groups. Meanwhile, categorical variables were used by chi-square test, and a p < 0.05 indicated that the differences were statistically significant. ResultsBoth groups were followed up for 7 to 18 months, with a mean of 10.3 months. Postoperative decrease in hemoglobin was significantly less in the tranexamic acid group than in the conventional group (t = 7.611, p < 0.05). The total blood loss in the tranexamic acid group (74.33 ± 20.50) mL was less than that in the conventional group (83.05 ± 17.73) mL, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Both groups showed improvement in thumb/finger flexion and extension range of motion after surgery, and the TAM improved compared with those before surgery, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The TAM improved more significantly in the tranexamic acid group (87.68° ± 10.44°) than in the conventional group (80.47° ± 10.93°) at 6 months after surgery, with a statistically significant difference (t = 3.013, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in operation time and incidence of early postoperative complications between the 2 groups (p > 0.05). ConclusionThe topical application of tranexamic acid during hand tendon release can significantly reduce postoperative bleeding and improve surgical efficacy, which is worth promoting.

41395 Combination of skin micro-needling and topical application of tranexamic acid and vitamin C: New clinical application: A pilot study for treatment of erythematotelangiectatic rosacea

41395 Combination of skin micro-needling and topical application of tranexamic acid and vitamin C: New clinical application: A pilot study for treatment of erythematotelangiectatic rosacea

Potential Benefit of Combined Topical and Intravenous Administration of Tranexamic Acid in Congenital Heart Surgery

Abstract Objective Pediatric patients who undergo repair of congenital heart diseases on cardiopulmonary bypass are at great risk of postoperative bleeding. The major causes of bleeding are thrombocytopenia, platelets dysfunction, hemodilution and increased fibrinolysis during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Non-surgical postoperative bleeding occurs due to micro-vascular bleeding from pericardial and mediastinal tissues when blood comes in contact with non-endothelial surfaces of the Cardio-Pulmonary Bypass (CPB) machine, compounded by liberal use of heparin and a complex interaction of humoral and cellular pathways. Aim of the Work The aim of the study is to asses if there is potential benefit of intrapericardial topical application of tranexamic acid when it is combined with the intravenous administration in reduction of postoperative bleeding after pediatric cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Patients and Methods Type of the study: Interventional, randomized and double blinded clinical trial. Study Setting: The operating theaters of Ain Shams University Hospitals. Study period: Over one year (from March 2020 to March 2021). Standard management: Intravenous Tranexamic acid (TxA) injection. Results The estimated blood loss postoperatively in first 24 hrs. Were less in the combined group than the IV group. Requirements of blood transfusion also were statically significant in combined group than IV group from aspects of volume of PRBCs transfusion, Total number of patients exposed to transfusion and transfusion rate. There is no difference regarding ICU stay and need of surgical re exploration. Conclusion The combined use of low dose IV and topical intrapericardial tranexamic acid in children with congenital heart disease undergoing on pump cardiac surgery reduced the risk of post-operative bleeding and need for blood products transfusion when compared to the administration of IV tranexamic acid only suggesting a potential benefit of topical tranexamic acid in hemostasis.

Efficacy and Safety of Topical Tranexamic Acid Alone or in Combination with Either Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser or Microneedling for the Treatment of Melasma.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a promising treatment modality for melasma. Microneedling (MN) and fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser were reported to enhance TXA transepidermal delivery. To compare efficacy and safety of topical TXA alone or in combination with either fractional CO2 laser or MN for treatment of melasma. Thirty females with facial melasma were divided randomly into 3 equal groups after excluding pregnant and lactating women and those using oral contraceptives or other hormonal therapy. Patients of group A were treated with fractional CO2 laser and those of group B were treated with MN (4 sessions, 3 weeks apart for both) with immediate topical application of TXA 5% solution after sessions and daily application of 5% TXA cream for both groups. Patients of group C were treated by topical daily application of TXA 5% cream. Evaluation was done by modified melasma area and severity index scores (mMASI), patient satisfaction and dermoscopy. Statistically significant improvement of mMASI was reported in all studied groups with a significantly better improvement in patients of groups A and B than those of group C, meanwhile the difference between groups A and B was statistically insignificant. Topical TXA is a safe and fairly effective treatment modality for facial melasma. Combining TXA with either fractional CO2 laser or MN yielded significantly better improvement than when used alone. Fractional CO2 laser carries the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with skin types III and IV and requires meticulous patient selection.

Topical Tranexamic Acid Does Not Reduce The Incidence Of Hematoma In Reduction Mammoplasty: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Breast reduction mammoplasty (BRM) is among the most common procedures in plastic surgery, with a 1-7% postoperative hematoma incidence reported. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to reduce perioperative bleeding and need for transfusion when administered intravenously or topically, but remains underutilized in plastic surgery. This study aims to investigate whether topical administration of topical TXA reduces postoperative hematoma following BRM. A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of 98 patients (196 breasts) undergoing bilateral primary reduction mammoplasty at a single academic institution was performed. Patients were used as internal matched controls, with one breast randomized to receive 1000mg of topical TXA before closure, and the other receiving saline. All members of the surgical team and patient were blinded as to which breast received the study drug. Postoperative complications, including hematoma, within 30 days of surgery, drain outputs, and duration of drain use, were compared between treatment and placebo breasts. The overall hematoma rate was 1.5%. There was no significant association between application of TXA and development of a hematoma (p=0.56) or other complications. The hematoma rate of patients enrolled in the trial was similar to the overall rate of hematoma during the study time period (1.5% versus 2.4%, p=0.511). In a multivariate model, TXA was not significantly associated with differences in drain output after controlling for resection weight, age, and duration of drain use (p=0.799). No adverse effects or thromboembolic events from TXA were observed. Topical application of TXA does not decrease the incidence of hematoma following reduction mammoplasty.

The effect of application of topical tranexamic acid versus hydrogen peroxide on postoperative hemostasis in elective spine surgeries: a randomized controlled trial

The effect of application of topical tranexamic acid versus hydrogen peroxide on postoperative hemostasis in elective spine surgeries: a randomized controlled trial

Precise application of topical tranexamic acid to enhance endoscopic hemostasis for peptic ulcer bleeding: a randomized controlled study (with video)

Peptic ulcer recurrent bleeding occurs in 20% to 30% of patients after standard endoscopic hemostasis, particularly within 4 days after the procedure. The application of additional tranexamic acid (TXA) to the ulcer may enhance hemostasis. This study investigated the effectiveness of TXA powder application on bleeding ulcers during endoscopic hemostasis. This study enrolled patients who had peptic ulcer bleeding between March 2022 and February 2023. After undergoing standard endoscopic therapy, the patients were randomly assigned to either the TXA group or the standard group. In the TXA group, an additional 1.25 g of TXA powder was sprayed endoscopically on the ulcer. Both groups then received 3 days of high-dose (8 mg/h) continuous infusion proton pump inhibitor therapy. Second-look endoscopy was conducted on days 3 to 4. The primary end point of early treatment failure was defined as ulcer recurrent bleeding within 4 days or major stigmata of recent hemorrhage on the second-look endoscopy. Sixty patients (30 in each group) with peptic ulcer bleeding and balanced baseline characteristics were randomly assigned to a treatment group. The early treatment failure rate was lower in the TXA group (6.7%) than in the standard group (30%) (P= .042). The freedom from treatment failure periods for 4 and 28 days was significantly longer in the TXA group than in the standard group (P= .023). No adverse events from TXA were recorded. The precise delivery of topical TXA alongside standard endoscopic hemostasis reduced the early treatment failure rate in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT05248321.).

Effectiveness of laser and topical tranexamic acid combination therapy in melasma: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Melasma is a chronic relapsing skin condition. Laser therapy is a new advancement in treatment. Whether the topical application of tranexamic acid (TXA) increases the efficacy of laser therapy in melasma is still under debate. With recent studies yielding different results, it was imperative to compile all the available literature systematically. This meta-analysis investigates the effectiveness of a combination therapy of laser plus TXA acid for treating melasma. PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the International Clinical Trials registry were systematically searched for article retrieval. Screening per PRISMA guidelines was undertaken by two independent reviewers using the Covidance database. Melasma area of severity index (MASI)/modified MASI was used as the clinical improvement outcomes. A total of nine studies that described the combined use of topical tranexamic acid with laser therapy were included for meta-analysis. These studies employed various types of lasers along with topical TXA. The results showed that the combination of both laser therapy and topical TXA significantly decreased the MASI score (P < 0.0001). Subgroup analyses revealed that fractional CO2 laser among the laser types and monthly laser plus twice daily topical TXA were most effective in decreasing the MASI/mMASI score. The meta-analysis found that combining topical tranexamic acid and laser therapy is an effective and safer treatment option for treatment-resistant melasma. Furthermore, monthly fractional CO2 laser and daily application of topical tranexamic acid showed high effectiveness and safety.

The Effect of Topical Tranexamic Acid on Postrhinoplasty Periorbital Ecchymosis and Eyelid Edema.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of topical tranexamic acid application in overcoming periorbital ecchymosis and eyelid edema in patients who have undergone open-technique rhinoplasty. Fifty patients were included in the study and divided into two groups: those who had topical tranexamic acid applied and those who did not (controls). In the tranexamic acid group, tranexamic acid-soaked pledgets were placed under the skin flap in a way that both sides could reach the osteotomy area and left for 5 minutes. In the control group, isotonic saline-soaked pledgets were placed under the skin flap in the same manner and left for 5 minutes. Digital photographs were obtained on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7. Eyelid edema and periorbital ecchymosis were scored by two different examiners and averaged for comparison. Edema that developed in the patients who had tranexamic acid applied was significantly less than in the control group on postoperative day 1. There was no difference between the two groups on postoperative day 3 or 7. Ecchymosis that developed in patients who had tranexamic acid applied was significantly less than in the control group on all days. Topical tranexamic acid applied to the surgical field immediately after osteotomy in rhinoplasty surgery reduces the development of postoperative periorbital ecchymosis. In addition, the topical tranexamic acid application also reduces the development of eyelid edema in the early postoperative period. Therapeutic, II.

EFFICACY OF TOPICAL TRANEXAMIC ACID TO REDUCE BLOOD LOSS AFTER CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING (CABG)

Background: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass technique has a coagulopathy issue. Many factors act on the coagulation process such as heparin level, thrombocytopenia, increased fibrinolysis and acquired platelet dysfunction. The human body responds to stress with dramatic resilience. For example, bleeding diathesis is common with on pump, after injury clotting mechanisms are immediately activated to reduce blood loss, the blood volume is restored by shifting the fluids from extracellular compartment and redistribution of blood flow occurs. Fibrinolytic cascade is activated with CPB usage. Before it was thought that excessive bleeding after CPB was due to platelet dysfunction and depletion. Recently, it was suggested by many lines of information that fibrinolytic cascade activation leads to bleeding during postoperative period. Multiple agents like Tranexamic acid and Aminocaproic acid etc are anti-fibrinolytic agents that can be administered to minimize the bleeding postoperatively.&#x0D; Objectives: To compare the efficacy of topical application of Tranexamic acid to reduce blood loss after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG).&#x0D; Methods: It is randomized controlled trial. This research program was carried out at the Unit of Cardiothoracic &amp; Vascular Surgery, Institute of Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from December 6th, 2017 to December 5th, 2018. First patient evaluated on 11th December 2017. Seventy patients were enrolled, who were eligible for this study, achieving the inclusion criteria. Two groups of the selected population were made by randomization. Group A comprised 35 patients to whom 1 gm of diluted Tranexamic Acid using 100 ml normal saline solution is poured to the pericardial cavity. Group B involved 35 patients as well, whom were given standard of care treatment which in this case is 100 ml normal saline. Since 100ml normal saline did not contain any active ingredient for treatment, therefore it was considered as placebo. Intervention (Placebo or TXA) was considered efficacious if it resulted in blood loss of less than 500ml in 72 hours from immediately post-op to 72 hours post-op. The efficacy of drugs within groups is compared by the use of Chi-square test. Independent sample t-test was applied for data analysis of blood loss with p-value ≤0.05 being taken as significant.&#x0D; Results: In our study, total70patients were enrolled. Group-A (Tranexamic Acid) and Group-B (Placebo) were made. In group-A, there were 30 (85.7%) male and 5(14.3%) female patients. In group-B, 28(80.0%) were male and 7(20.0%) were female. In our study population, mean age of patients were 52.4±9.9 years and 53.6±10.1 years in group A&amp;B respectively. In group-A, there were 22(62.9%) patients in which the intervention showed efficacy (blood loss &lt;500ml), while only 09(25.7%) patients in group-B showed blood loss of &lt;500ml, p-value of 0.002 being statistically significant.&#x0D; Conclusion: Topical application of Tranexamic Acid reduces blood loss after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG).

The Clinical Effect of Topical Application of Tranexamic Acid in Arthroscopic Synovectomy of Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the Knee.

This study investigated the clinical effect of topical application of tranexamic acid (TXA) in arthroscopic synovectomy of pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) of the knee. Eighty patients who were diagnosed with unilateral knee PVNS underwent arthroscopic synovectomies from January 2017 to January 2021 and were retrospectively investigated in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: group A was the control group, whereas patients in group B received an intra-articular injection of 50 mL of TXA (1 g:100 mL) immediately after the synovectomies. The primary outcome measurement was the drainage volume of the affected knee in each postoperative stage, as well as the hematological parameters. Secondary outcomes included visual analog scale score, knee range of motion, and Lysholm score. Postoperative complications were also recorded. A lower volume of drainage was found in group B than in group A on postoperative day (POD) 1, on POD 2, and in total (POD 1, P=.000; POD 2, P=.000; total, P=.000). A lower visual analog scale pain score in group B was noticed on POD 1 (P=.000) and POD 2 (P=.005). Range of motion (P=.019) and Lysholm score (P=.001) were significantly superior in group B compared with group A on POD 14. Regarding complications, 3 patients in group A and 1 patient in group B developed deep venous thrombosis after surgery. Hematomas were found intra-articularly in 5 patients in group A during follow-up. Intraarticular topical application of TXA was effective in reducing postoperative bleeding and early postoperative pain for patients who underwent arthroscopic synovectomy of PVNS. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(3):e179-e185.].

Topical tranexamic acid in intramedullary nailing for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) intravenously minimizes bleeding, lowers transfusion rates, and does not raise the risk of complications during major orthopedic surgery. Concerning the effectiveness of the topical application, there are, nevertheless, inconsistent findings. We aimed to develop a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis on the benefits and safety of topical TXA in intramedullary nailing for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library will all be searched for randomized controlled trials published from the database inception to October 15, 2022. The primary outcomes will be intraoperative blood loss, hidden blood loss, total blood loss, transfusion rate, transfusion units, operative time, thromboembolic events, and mortality. The risk of bias will be evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Review Manager 5.3 will be used for the analysis. The effects and safety of topical TXA in intramedullary nailing for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly will be quantified in this study. The study's findings will assist doctors in determining if topical TXA use is secure and efficient.

Foot &amp; Ankle

The February 2023 Foot &amp; Ankle Roundup360 looks at: Joint inflammatory response in ankle and pilon fractures; Tibiotalocalcaneal fusion with a custom cage; Topical application of tranexamic acid can reduce blood loss in calcaneal fractures; Risk factors for failure of total ankle arthroplasty; Pain catastrophizing: the same as pain forecasting?.

Efficacy of a Combined Intramedullary, Periarticular Injection, and Intraarticular Tranexamic Acid Application on Postoperative Bleeding in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Case-Matched Study.

Topical tranexamic acid (TXA) has been widely used to reduce postoperative blood loss following total knee replacement (TKA). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of combined intramedullary, periarticular injection, and intraarticular TXA application in patients who underwent TKA as compared to those who did not. This was a retrospective case-matched study of 111 patients. We evaluated the transfusion rate and postoperative drainage of 56 patients who underwent TKA using combined topical tranexamic acid application (directly pushed into the femoral intramedullary canal and tibia base, with periarticular soft tissue injection and injected into the knee cavity via a drain tube) and the control group of 55 patients. In the control and TXA groups, 7.14% and 1.81% of the patients received blood transfusions, respectively (p=0.176). The closed-suction drainage output at 0-8 h and total drainage output were significantly lower in the TXA group than those in the control group (p < 0.001). Application of topical TXA with the combined method (intramedullary, periarticular injection, and intraarticular) in TKA decreases postoperative suction drainage and may reduce the need for postoperative blood transfusion.

Application of Topical Tranexamic Acid Reduces Postoperative Blood Loss after Posterior Spinal Fusion with Instrumentation in Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Purpose: There is limited literature regarding the topical use of tranexamic acid (TXA) to control postoperative bleeding during spinal deformity correction and fusion procedures, which often require blood transfusions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of topical TXA on postoperative blood loss in patients undergoing deformity correction and posterior spinal fusion (PSF) surgeries. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted between January 2011 and April 2017 in 51 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who underwent long-segment PSF with hybrid thoracic-hook pedicle screw instrumentation or pedicle-screw-alone constructs. Twenty-five patients were assigned to receive topical TXA (1 g/20 mL), and the drain was clamped for 2 h. Twenty-six patients in the control group were treated with antifibrinolytic agents. Results: Median drainage blood loss, median day of drain removal, and median postoperative hospitalization were significantly lower in the topical TXA group (all p &lt;0.05). The postoperative packed red cell transfusion rate was significantly lower in the topical TXA group than that in the control group (15 of 25, 60% vs. 23 of 26, 88.5%; p=0.02; risk ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.48–0.96). Conclusions: The use of topically administered 1 g TXA in AIS patients undergoing instrumented PSF effectively reduced postoperative transfusion requirements, decreased the total amount of drainage blood loss, reduced the time till drain removal, and shortened the length of postoperative hospitalization.

Topical Application of Tranexamic Acid in Subcutaneous Mastectomy Wounds in Female-to-male Transgender Patients

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic drug that can be used to treat and prevent bleeding. Its application in plastic and reconstructive surgery has been very limited to date. To our knowledge, there is a lack of published data on the topical application of TXA in transgender patients undergoing subcutaneous mastectomy. We performed a retrospective data analysis of female-to-male transgender patients who underwent subcutaneous mastectomy. A total of 22 patients were treated with topical TXA, while 29 patients served as controls. The primary endpoint was the amount of wound secretion in the first 48 hours after surgery. Secondary endpoints were the duration of drainage and the occurrence of postoperative bleeding. Within the first 48 hours, the TXA group had an average drain volume of 97±50 ml compared with 180±111 ml in the control group (p<0.01). There was a significantly lower flow rate over the entire period in the group of TXA patients (113±86 ml vs. 265±197 ml). The time of drains in situ was 2.3±0.7 days in TXA patients, while the drains in the control group were in place for an average of 3.4±1.3 days (p<0.01). In the group of patients treated with TXA, there was a tendency towards a lower number of postoperative bleeding and haematoma (9vs. 17%). There was a significant reduction in the amount of drain fluid within the first 48 hours and over the entire period after topical application of TXA. Also there was a reduction in the length of time patients had a drain in place in the TXA-treated patients. This study demonstrated a significant advantage for the topical application of TXA in subcutaneous mastectomy in female-to-male transgender patients.

Randomized study on the topical application of tranexamic acid to the wound bed of granulating defects for hemostasis in the setting of Mohs micrographic surgery

Randomized study on the topical application of tranexamic acid to the wound bed of granulating defects for hemostasis in the setting of Mohs micrographic surgery

Effect of Topical Tranexamic Acid on Seroma Formation in a Rat Mastectomy Model.

Seroma is the most common complication after mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether the topical application of tranexamic acid would be useful to reduce seromas in a rat mastectomy model. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. After mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection, 0.4mL of normal saline was administered to group A in the dead space. In group B, 0.4mL of a triamcinolone mixed solution was administered. In group C, 0.4mL of a tranexamic acid (10mg/kg) mixed solution was administered. In group D, 0.4mL of a tranexamic acid (50mg/kg) mixed solution was administered. Gross examination, assessment with micro-computed tomography (CT), quantitative analysis via aspiration, and histopathologic assessment were implemented 7 and 14 days postoperatively. No other complications such as wound infection and skin necrosis were observed. At postoperative week 1, groups B and C showed significantly lower seroma volume values on micro-CT (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) and seroma volume values at aspiration (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively) than group A. According to histopathologic analysis, inflammation was observed more frequently in groups A and D than in the other groups, and angiogenesis was more active in groups B and C than in the other groups. Topical application of tranexamic acid was as effective as topical application of triamcinolone to prevent seroma formation. The stability of tranexamic acid was confirmed when the high dose of tranexamic acid was used. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Effectiveness and safety of tranexamic acid in total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: Major elective orthopedic surgery is often associated with blood loss, requiring the need for blood transfusion. A possible pharmacological option to reduce surgical blood loss in total arthroplasty is the use of tranexamic acid. The objective of the study was to undertake a meta-analysis investigating the effects of tranexamic acid on knee arthroplasty. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was designed as a systematic review and meta-analysis. The PubMed, Central, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched up to March 23, 2022, to identify randomized controlled trials concerning tranexamic acid (TXA) administration during knee arthroplasty. Overall and stratified pooled odds ratios (ORs) or mean differences (MDs) with their 95% confidence intervals (Cis) were obtained. RESULTS: Fifty-two articles were included. Pooled analysis showed that hemoglobin changes in TXA group was 3.4 ± 3.1, compared to 4.03 ± 2.62 for non-TXA group (MD = −1.30; 95% CI: –1.57 to –1.03; I2 = 99%; p&lt;0.001). Total blood loss was reported in 31 trials and was statistically significantly lower in the TXA group compared to non-TXA (MD = –391.51; 95% CI: −454.29 to −328.73; p &lt; 0.001). Intraoperative blood loss was lower when using TXA rather than non-TXA (MD = −32.10; 95% CI: −50.63 to −13.58; p &lt; 0.001). 24-hours blood loss from the drain was also lower with TXA than with placebo (MD = −228.68; 95% CI: −293.31 to −164.05; p &lt; 0.001). The above dependencies also applied to the intravenous as well as topical application of TXA. Blood transfusion was performed in 11.2% of patients from TXA group, compared to 34.3% of patients treated with placebo (OR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.22; p &lt; 0.001). Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was observed in 4.6% of patients treated with TXA, compared to 5.8% of patients treated with placebo (OR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.49 to 1.35; p = 0.42) and pulmonary embolism was 0.5% in TXA group and 1.4% in placebo group (OR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.15 to 1.36; p = 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: Tranexamic acid is effective and safe in reducing blood loss, the requirement for blood transfusion, and drain output in patients undergoing knee arthroplasty.