TXA Group Research Articles

Impact of intraoperative intravenous tranexamic acid on hematomas and bleeding events in gender-affirming vaginoplasty patients

One of the more common and disruptive complications of gender-affirming vaginoplasty is postoperative bleeding. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of intraoperative intravenous tranexamic acid (IV TXA) administration on postoperative bleeding events in a large sample of gender-affirming vaginoplasty patients. Patients receiving gender-affirming vaginoplasty at the between June 2019 and July 2023 were evaluated retrospectively. IV TXA use, estimated blood loss, and bleeding complications were evaluated. Postoperative complications included minor hematomas, defined as hematomas requiring conservative treatment; major hematomas, defined as hematomas requiring intervention such as return to the operating room and readmission; major bleeding, defined as continuous bleeding from the surgical site requiring intervention; and readmission and reoperation related to bleeding. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. In total, 628 patients were included in the study, 271 did not receive IV TXA and 357 received IV TXA. Surgeon preference dictated IV TXA use. Significantly fewer patients in the IV TXA group had a hematoma event (18% vs. 2%, p<0.001), a minor hematoma (16% vs. 3%, p<0.001), postoperative major bleeding (4% vs. 2%, p=0.008), and readmission for bleeding (6% vs. 1%, p=0.018). On logistic regression analysis, IV TXA use was associated with a decreased odds of developing any type of hematoma (OR 0.140, 95% CI 0.071-0.277, p<0.001), a minor hematoma (OR 0.126, 95% CI 0.059-0.270, p<0.001), and postoperative bleeding (OR 0.348, 0.153-0.794, p=0.012). The use of IV TXA reduces certain bleeding events in gender-affirming vaginoplasty patients, complications that can cause distress in the postoperative period.

The role of post-traumatic antifibrinolysis in the perioperative blood management of elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures treated with PFNA: a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of posttraumatic antifibrinolytic therapy with repeated doses of intravenous tranexamic acid (IV-TXA) in reducing perioperative hidden blood loss (HBL) in elderly intertrochanteric femur fracture (IFF) patients. Method112 elderly IFF patients who were admitted to our department from March 2020 to May 2021 were randomized to receive 100 ml of normal saline (Control group) or 1.5 g of TXA (TXA group) intravenously q12 hours from postadmission day 1 (PAD1) to PAD3. Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), fibrinogen degradation product (FDP), D-dimer (D-D), and coagulation parameters were recorded from PAD1 to postoperative day 3 (POD3). HBL was calculated using the gross formula and recorded as the primary outcome. ResultThe patients in TXA group had lower preoperative hidden blood loss(HBL), decline of hemoglobin(ΔHb), FDP (on PAD3), and D-D (on PAD3) compared with control group, while no difference was found in postoperative HBL, postoperative ΔHb and allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) rate. In subgroup analyses, it was observed that patients who received the intervention within 24 hours of injury and between 24 and 72 hours of injury exhibited significantly lower preoperative HBL and ΔHb in the TXA group compared with the control group. Furthermore, the reduction in HBL and ΔHb was more pronounced in the former group. While for patients who received the intervention beyond 72 hours after injury, no significant differences were observed in preoperative HBL and ΔHb between the two groups. Similarly, no significant differences were noted in postoperative HBL and ΔHb between the TXA and control groups across all subgroups. Additionally, no significant differences were identified in the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and mortality within one year between the two groups. ConclusionPost-traumatic antifibrinolytic therapy with repeated doses of intravenous TXA is effective and safe in reducing perioperative HBL for elderly IFF patients, especially for patients injured within 24 hours.

Prophylactic Effect of Misoprostol Versus Tranexamic Acid in Conjunction with Oxytocin in Reduction of Post­Partum Hemorrhage After LSCS: A Prospective Randomized Study

AIM : The aim of this study is to compare the prophylactic efficacy of sublingual misoprostol (800 μg) versus IV tranexamic acid (1gm), each administered in conjunction with oxytocin, in reducing blood loss during LSCS METHOD: Hospital based prospective randomised study over a period of one year. The women undergoing LSCS who met the inclusion criteria were included. Total 182 patients were included and divided into three groups- control group, miso group and TXA group and comparison done by calculating the amount of blood in gauze used (approx.10cc) and the amount in the suction catheter, comparing pre and post-op Hb, and additional uterotonic agent used. RESULTS : Among 3 groups, Group C (oxytocin + TXA) had noticeably less blood loss with a mean of 395.57 ± 143.02, compared to Group A(oxytocin only) with a mean of 502.00 ± 112.17, and Group B(oxytocin + miso) with a mean of 470.49 ± 110.38 which was statistically significant with a p-value of less than 0.001. In Group A, 60.0% needed additional uterotonic agents, whereas In Group B,39.3% needed additional agents,and In Group C, 32.8% needed additional uterotonic agents, but 67.2% didn't. Group A only 16.7% had PPH,In Group B only 9.8% saw PPH, while in Group C only 6.6% of cases had PPH. CONCLUSION : Combining oxytocin with Misoprostol or Tranexamic acid might be more effective in reducing occurrences of PPH than using oxytocin alone.

Does Tranexamic Acid Reduce Elbow Swelling and Improve Early Function Following Arthroscopic Arthrolysis? A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundTranexamic acid (TXA) reduces bleeding and hematoma rates in open elbow arthrolysis. However, its effects on arthroscopic elbow arthrolysis remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the effect of TXA on elbow arthroscopic procedures and compare bleeding volume, hemarthrosis, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, range of motion (ROM), and Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) in the early postoperative period between patients who received intra-articular TXA and those who did not. MethodsA prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial enrolling 80 patients with stiff elbows who underwent arthroscopic arthrolysis was performed from January 2021 to December 2022. Intra-articularly, 1 g of TXA in 100 ml of saline or placebo (control group) was administered after the arthroscopic operation according to randomization. Parameters were recorded and compared between the groups, including bleeding volume of drainage, hemoglobin (Hgb) level, ratio of arm and forearm circumference of the surgical side to the contralateral side, grading of hematoma, VAS, ROM and MEPS within one week postoperatively. And during one year follow-up, ROM and MEPS were recorded. ResultsAll patients enrolled in this study demonstrated significant improvements in ROM (flexion-extension) and MEPS one week postoperatively, with no significant differences observed between the two groups. Compared to the control group, the TXA group exhibited significant differences in the bleeding volume of drainage (61.45±47.7 ml vs. 89.8±47.0 ml, p=0.030) and a higher Hgb level 24 hours postoperatively (13.5±1.5 g/dL vs. 12.6±1.8 g/dL p=0.049). While the ratio of arm and forearm circumferences significantly increased 24 hours postoperatively compared to preoperative values in TXA group (1.05±0.06 vs. 1.02±0.04 and 1.02±0.06 vs. 0.98±0.04, with p=0.019 and p=0.005, respectively), this difference vanished one week postoperatively for the ratio of arm circumference. However, it persisted for the ratio of forearm circumference (1.02±0.07 vs. 0.98±0.04, p=0.003). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in MEPS, VAS or ROM between the two groups one week postoperatively. ConclusionPatients with stiff elbows who underwent arthroscopic arthrolysis achieved satisfactory clinical outcomes very early postoperatively. Compared to the control group, patients who underwent arthroscopic elbow arthrolysis with intra-articular administration of TXA exhibited significantly less bleeding volume of drainage and slightly higher Hgb levels postoperatively. One week postoperatively, slightly more swelling in the upper arm region was noted in the control group compared to the TXA group. These findings suggest that the intra-articular injection of TXA after arthroscopic release for elbow stiffness may statistically reduce complications related to postoperative bleeding. However, it’s clinical relevance needs further investigation.

Tranexamic Acid Subcutaneously Administered with Epinephrine and Lidocaine in Upper Blepharoplasty: A Randomized Double-Blind Control Trial

BackgroundEyelid surgery is one of the top five aesthetic procedures. It is performed to improve both appearance and function, but intraoperative bleeding leads to adverse events which perturb patients. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of TXA combined with epinephrine in decreasing intraoperative blood loss and postoperative inflammation.MethodsThis prospective randomized control trial was performed on the 30 eyelids of 15 patients who underwent upper blepharoplasty. One of each patient’s eyes was randomly assigned to the TXA group, and the other eye was in the control group. Eyes in the TXA group were given 2% lidocaine with epinephrine (1:100000) mixed with TXA (50 mg/ml) in 1:1 mixture subcutaneously as a local anesthetic. The eyes in the control group received 2% lidocaine with epinephrine (1:100000) diluted with normal saline in 1:1 mixture. Intraoperative blood loss and postoperative swelling were compared between the two groups.ResultsIntraoperative blood loss was significantly higher in the TXA group [4.86 (1.83) ml] than it was in the control group [2.53 (1.49) ml] (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in operative time (p = 0.645), pain score (p = 0.498), lid crease (p = 0.548), or MRD1 (p = 0.626). On postoperative day 7, there was no difference in lid crease (p = 0.879), MRD1 (p = 0.463), pain score (p = 0.934), or ecchymosis (p = 0.976) between two groups.ConclusionsTXA in lidocaine with epinephrine was found to increase intraoperative bleeding compared to lidocaine with epinephrine alone, but there was no difference in postoperative swelling or ecchymosis. TXA combined with lidocaine and epinephrine injected subcutaneously should be avoided until additional relevant data are obtained. Further drug interaction study is needed.Level of Evidence IIThis journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. 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.

Can local infiltration analgesia supplemented with tranexamic acid reduce blood loss during total knee arthroplasty?

PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of TXA supplemented with local infiltration analgesia (LIA) for reducing blood loss in patients undergoing total knee replacement.MaterialsA retrospective study of 530 individuals with a mean age of 71.44 years was performed after posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty. Patients were divided into three groups according to the method of bleeding control: I - patients without an additional bleeding protocol (control group); II - patients receiving IV TXA (TXA group); and III - patients receiving the exact TXA protocol plus intraoperative local infiltration analgesia (TXA + LIA group). Blood loss was measured according to the maximal decrease in Hb compared to the preoperative Hb level.ResultsThe mean hospitalization duration was 7.02 (SD 1.34) days in the control group, 6.08 (SD 1.06) days in the TXA group, and 5.56 (SD 0.79) in the TXA + LIA group. The most significant decrease in haemoglobin was found in the control group, which was an average of 30.08%. The average decrease in haemoglobin was 25.17% (p < 0.001) in the TXA group and 23.67% (p < 0.001) in the TXA + LIA group. A decrease in the rate of allogeneic blood transfusions was observed: 24.4% in the control group, 9.9% in the TXA group, and 8% in the TXA + LIA group (p < 0.01).ConclusionsCompared to the separate administration of tranexamic acid, the combination of perioperative administration with local infiltration analgesia significantly reduced blood loss in patients after total knee replacement.

Tranexamic Acid in Reducing Intraoperative Bleeding in Dogs Undergoing Thoracolumbar and Lumbar Hemilaminectomy and Intervertebral Disc Fenestration

Hemilaminectomy associated with intervertebral disc fenestration (HF) is the most used spinal decompression surgical technique for the treatment of intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE). The surgical procedure can be hampered by excessive bleeding from the venous sinuses; however, tranexamic acid intravenously (IV) is a possible adjunct to hemostasis in these patients. This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in reducing intraoperative bleeding in dogs with thoracolumbar and lumbar IVDE submitted to HF. Sixteen dogs with IVDE undergoing HF were included. These were distributed into a TXA group (tranexamic acid 20 mg/kg IV bolus, followed by 2 mg/kg/h IV continuous infusion) (n = 8) and a control group, with saline solution (n = 8). Blood loss was measured using the gravimetric method. The difficulty of operative visualization due to bleeding was classified by the surgeon. Median blood loss (%) in patients in the TXA group was lower than those in the control group (2.75 ± 1.23 and 4.99 ± 4.44, respectively) (P = .028). Intraoperative visualization difficulty due to bleeding occurred in 10 patients in the control group, and in no patients in the TXA group. A severe arterial thromboembolic complication was recorded, potentially due to tranexamic acid. The use of intraoperative tranexamic acid was effective in reducing bleeding and facilitating operative visualization in dogs with IVDE undergoing hemilaminectomy and intervertebral disc fenestration.

Is tranexamic acid safe for the hip joint?

To show the effects of tranexamic acid, which is a drug frequently used to control bleeding, on the hip joint and sciatic nerve in animal experiments. There were 15 rats in each of the 3 groups, with a total of 45 rats. Topical saline injections were applied to the first group, topical TXA injections to the second group, and intravenous (IV) TXA injections to the third group. In the samples taken from the hip joint 3weeks later, femoral head cartilage, sciatic nerve, and joint capsule thicknesses were analyzed histologically. Statistically significantly more cartilage degradation was detected in the femoral head cartilage in both the IV and intraarticular TXA group when compared to the control group. The groups were also compared in terms of acetabular cartilage; however, no histological difference was found between the groups. It was seen that when the femoral head cartilage thickness (the average of the measurements made from 3 different points were used) was examined, the cartilage thickness in the topical TXA group was less when compared to the other 2 groups. However, this difference was determined to not be statistically significant. The data of the hip joint capsule thickness measurement, it was found that the capsule thickness in the topical TXA applied group was less when compared to the other 2 groups. However, this difference was not statistically significant. When the sciatic nerves in all 3 groups were compared, no different staining characteristics were found in the immunofluorescence examination. TXA, which is frequently used in orthopedic practice, shows negative effects on hip joint cartilage in both topical and intravenous application.

Tranexamic acid can reduce blood loss in adolescent scoliosis surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundTranexamic acid (TXA) has been widely used in orthopedic surgery, but its efficacy in adolescent scoliosis (AS) surgery remains unclear in the literature. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TXA compared to placebo treatment during or after AS surgery, by gathering data from randomized both controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs.MethodsEnglish and Chinese electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, CNKI, and Wan Fang database were searched to identify the relevant literature up until August 2022. The primary outcomes were intraoperative blood loss and total blood loss. The secondary outcomes included the need for transfusion, postoperative hemoglobin (Hb) level, and change in Hb level. Stata 17 was used for data analysis and the risk of bias was assessed. We followed the PRISMA checklist to ensure the quality of this article.ResultsTwelve studies (795 participants) were included in the meta-analysis for intraoperative blood loss during surgery. The results suggest that TXA can reduce the intraoperative blood loss of the patients (MD = -306.40ml, 95%CI = -404.04ml to -208.77ml, p < 0.001). Six studies (2027 patients) were included in the meta-analysis for total blood loss. The pooled result shows that the total blood loss of the TXA group was significantly lower than that of the control group (MD = -779.24ml, 95% CI = -1157.10ml to -410.39ml, p < 0.001). Five studies (419 patients) were included in the meta-analysis for postoperative Hb level and shows a non-significant outcome (MD = 5.09 g/l, 95%CI = 2.92 g/l to 7.25 g/l, p = 0.611). Three studies (268 patients) were included in the meta-analysis for the postoperative Hb level. There is a non-significant decrease in the TXA group (MD = -0.23 g/l, 95%CI = -0.48 g/l to 0.01 g/l, p = 0.319). Eight studies (670 patients) reported data on the need for transfusion after surgery. The overall relative risks (RR) showed a significant difference between the TXA and control group, with a lower risk of transfusion in the TXA group (RR = 0.547, 95%CI = 0.308 to 0.972, p = 0.04).ConclusionsThe meta-analysis of the data reveals that TXA usage is associated with a significant reduction in intraoperative and total blood loss, a lower risk of transfusion, and a non-significant change in postoperative Hb levels in AS surgery However, it should be noted that the surgical operation situations varied across different studies. Therefore, further research is required to investigate the effects of TXA on specific subgroups of gender, operation time, and blood transfusion indicators. Overall, our study provides valuable evidence for the clinical management of AS surgery and may inform the development of practice guidelines and protocols for the use of TXA in this setting.

Efficacy and safety of using aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid during the perioperative period for treating trochanteric fractures in elderly femurs

BackgroundTranexamic acid (TXA) has long been the antifibrinolytic hemostatic drug of choice for orthopedic surgery. In recent years, the hemostatic effect of epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) has gradually been recognized by orthopedic surgeons and has begun to be used in hip and knee arthroplasty with little mention of the comparison of these two drugs; Therefore, this study compared the efficacy and safety of EACA and TXA in the perioperative period of elderly patients with trochanteric fractures to verify whether EAC could be a "qualified alternative" to TXA and to provide theoretical support for the clinical application of TXA.MethodsTwo hundred and forty-three patients who received proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) for trochanteric fractures from January 2021 to March 2022 at our institution were included and divided into the EACA group (n = 146) and the TXA group. (n = 97) determined by the drugs used in the perioperative period The main observations were blood loss and blood transfusion.The second second outcome was blood routine, coagulation, Hospital complications and complications after discharge.ResultsThe perioperative EACA patients had significantly lower significant blood loss (DBL) than the TXA group (p < 0.0001) and statistically significant lower C-reactive protein in the EACA group than in the TXA group on postoperative day 1 (p = 0.022). Patients on perioperative TXA had better postoperative day one (p = 0.002) and postoperative day five erythrocyte width than the EACA group (p = 0.004). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the remaining indicators in both drugs: blood items, coagulation indicators, blood loss, blood transfusion, length of hospital(LOH), total hospital expense, and postoperative complications (p > 0.05).ConclusionThe hemostatic effects and safety of EACA and TXA in the perioperative application of trochanteric fractures in the elderly are essentially similar, and EACA can be considered for use as an alternative to TXA, increasing the flexibility of physicians to use it in the clinical setting. However, the limited sample size included necessitated a high-quality, large sample of clinical studies and long-term follow-up.

A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECT OF TRANEXAMIC ACID IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CEPHALOMEDULLARY NAILING FOR HIP FRACTURES

Background: The main objective of the present study was to assess the effect of TXAin patients undergoing cephalomedullary nailing xation of hip fractures in comparison with patients not receiving TXA. Methods: This is a prospective comparative study done with eligible in-patients (n=71) with hip fractures, planned for cephalomedullary nailing in Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre, Tertiary Health Care Centre, Madurai, Tamilnadu. All eligible patients were divided into two groups viz. Group T and Group S. For Group T (TXA Group), intravenous infusion of TXA at the dose level of 15 mg/kg was given at the time of inducing anaesthesia i.e., 15 minutes before skin incision in surgery. For Group S (Saline Group) intravenous infusion of normal saline at the dose level of 15 mg/kg was given at the time of inducing anaesthesia i.e., 15 minutes before skin incision in surgery. Group T and Group S were compared and evaluated for blood loss and requirement of whole blood transfusion. Results: Majority of the study subjects i.e., 80% had Intertrochanteric femur fracture and majority of the study subjects i.e., 68.60% underwent closed reduction and internal xation with long Proximal Femoral Nail (PFN). Furthermore, our study ndings delineated that study subjects who received TXA had 79.8 mL lesser peri- operative blood loss as compared to control subjects and this difference was statistically signicant (p = 0.002) between the groups. In addition, number of study subjects who required blood transfusion was higher (44.44%) among Group S as compared to Group T (20.00%) and this difference was also statistically signicant (p&lt;0.05) between the groups. Conclusion: Tranexamic acid play a signicant role in reducing postoperative blood loss and blood transfusion when used intravenously in patients undergoing cephalomedullary nailing xation of hip fractures.

Use of tranexamic acid in dogs with primary immune thrombocytopenia: A feasibility study.

The aim of this feasibility study is to evaluate the use of tranexamic acid and its safe use alongside standard therapy in dogs with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). This is a cohort feasibility study involving 10 dogs diagnosed with primary ITP that received standard therapy for ITP including corticosteroids, a single dose of vincristine, and omeprazole. Dogs were randomly divided into either the control group (n = 6) or the group receiving tranexamic acid (TXA group, n = 4). The mean time from the start of treatment until remission was 5 days in the TXA group and 6 days in the control group (P = 0.69). Two dogs, one in each group, did not achieve remission. Clinical bleeding scores were not significantly different between both groups (p = 0.43), and the median blood volume administered was 37.5 ml/kg for the TXA group and 9.72 ml/kg for the control group (p = 0.084). Three out of the four dogs receiving TXA of 20 mg/kg IV started vomiting within 15 min of administration and were given a reduced dose of 15 or 10 mg/kg IV. Tranexamic acid did not confer a clinical benefit in this small cohort study and was associated with a high incidence of vomiting. This study provides useful information for the design of future trials in dogs with ITP receiving tranexamic acid including outcome measures and safety.

Effect of Tranexamic Acid on Blood Loss in Brain Tumour Resection Surgery

INTRODUCTION: Intraoperative blood loss is considered to be one of the major complications in neurosurgical operations and neurosurgical procedures and is directly related to the postoperative morbidity and mortality. Administration of Tranexamic acid [TXA] by reducing blood loss has resulted in survival benefits in Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI] population, as shown in two recent meta-analysis. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of tranexamic acid on blood loss in brain tumor resection surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients of either sex, aged 18-65 years who were undergoing brain tumour resection were randomly allocated to either group - the study group and the control group (30 patients in each group). Patients in the study group received tranexamic acid intravenously @10 mg/kg body weight over 10 minutes after induction and then maintenance of continuous infusion @ 1mg/kg/hr intraoperatively till skin closure. Patients in the control group received the same volume of saline per kg body weight as the volume of tranexamic acid in study group. RESULTS: The average drop in haemoglobin and HCT was significantly lower in TXA group. Accordingly, amount of blood loss was less in TXA group compared to saline group. (332ml vs 576 ml; p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: From our study, it was concluded that the administration of TXA resulted in a significant reduction in blood loss. TXA can thus be suggested as a cost effective method of reducing mortality due to hemorrhage in brain tumor surgery. Keywords: Tranexamic acid [TXA], Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI].

A Comparison of the Use of Tranexamic Acid versus Placebo in Patients Undergoing Excision of Intracranial Meningioma

Objective: Complete surgical removal of intracranial meningiomas is curative but with significant blood loss. Tranexamic acid has been proven beneficial in reducing blood loss following major surgical procedures. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to evaluate how well tranexamic acid worked to stop blood loss in patients having an intracranial meningioma removed.&#x0D; Objective: This study compares the effects of tranexamic acid and placebo on intraoperative blood loss, transfusion needs, and the frequency of surgical sites with good hemostatic quality in patients having an intracranial meningioma removed.&#x0D; Materials &amp; Methods: This clinical trial was carried out in the Department of Neurosurgery, unit II PGMI/ PINS, Lahore over 1 year. Two equal groups of 30 individuals each were formed from a total of 60 patients having an intracranial meningioma diagnosis. Group 1 was given TXA, whereas Group 2 was given a placebo (normal saline). Patients were assessed for intraoperative blood loss, transfusion needs, and a clean surgical area in terms of hemostasis.&#x0D; Results: Mean blood loss in the TXA group was 803.0 ± 106.53mL while that in the placebo group was 1159.5 ± 101.79 mL which was statistically significant (p = 0.000). TXA also significantly reduced transfusion requirements (p = 0.000) and was associated with better hemostasis of the surgical field (p = 0.000).&#x0D; Conclusion: This study concluded that TXA can reduce intraoperative blood loss and decrease the transfusion requirements in the postoperative period significantly as compared to placebo in patients experiencing surgical intracranial meningioma excision.

Reduction of perioperative blood loss and operating time for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair by intravenous administration of tranexamic acid

BackgroundTranexamic acid (TXA) is widely used in hip and knee arthroplasty to reduce perioperative bleeding. Recently, its use has been expanded to arthroscopic surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative use of TXA in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR). MethodsA cohort comprising 129 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic primary RCR at our institution was retrospectively investigated according to whether they received TXA (April 2018 to December 2020, TXA group, n = 64) or did not receive TXA (April 2016 to March 2018, non-TXA group, n = 65). TXA was administered at a dose of 1 g intravenously. Rotator cuff tears were repaired by the suture bridge technique. Videos of the arthroscopic procedures were reviewed and rated for visual clarity using a 10-point numeric rating scale. Arthroscopic procedures were divided into glenohumeral, resection of bursal tissue and acromioplasty, and RCR steps. Each step was rated separately. Age, sex, body mass index, hemoglobin level before and on days 1 and 7 after surgery, operating time, mean arterial pressure, tear size, and number of anchors used for cuff repair were compared between the two groups. ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in the patient demographic data. The operating time was significantly shorter in the TXA group than in non-TXA group (97.8 ± 21.8 min vs 116.2 ± 26.0 min). The clarity of the visual field was similar between the two groups during the glenohumeral phase but was significantly higher in the TXA group during the resection of bursal tissue and acromioplasty and RCR phases. Hemoglobin level was not significantly different between the groups on postoperative day 1 but was significantly higher in the TXA group on day 7. ConclusionAdministration of a single intravenous dose of TXA improved visual clarity in arthroscopic RCR, decreased the total operating time, and reduced hemoglobin loss on postoperative day 7.

Effectiveness of oral versus intravenous tranexamic acid in primary total hip and knee arthroplasty: a randomised, non-inferiority trial

BackgroundTranexamic acid (TXA) reduces rates of blood transfusion for total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Although the use of oral TXA rather than intravenous (i.v.) TXA might improve safety and reduce cost, it is not clear whether oral administration is as effective. MethodsThis noninferiority trial randomly assigned consecutive patients undergoing primary THA or TKA under neuraxial anaesthesia to either one preoperative dose of oral TXA or one preoperative dose of i.v. TXA. The primary outcome was calculated blood loss on postoperative day 1. Secondary outcomes were transfusions and complications within 30 days of surgery. ResultsFour hundred participants were randomised (200 THA and 200 TKA). The final analysis included 196 THA patients (98 oral, 98 i.v.) and 191 TKA patients (93 oral, 98 i.v.). Oral TXA was non-inferior to i.v. TXA in terms of calculated blood loss for both THA (effect size=–18.2 ml; 95% confidence interval [CI], –113 to 76.3; P<0.001) and TKA (effect size=–79.7 ml; 95% CI, –178.9 to 19.6; P<0.001). One patient in the i.v. TXA group received a postoperative transfusion. Complication rates were similar between the two groups (5/191 [2.6%] oral vs 5/196 [2.6%] i.v.; P=1.00). ConclusionsOral TXA can be administered in the preoperative setting before THA or TKA and performs similarly to i.v. TXA with respect to blood loss and transfusion rates. Switching from i.v. to oral TXA in this setting has the potential to improve patient safety and decrease costs.

Quality of life and cost-effectiveness analysis of topical tranexamic acid and fibrin glue in femur fracture surgery

BackgroundWe assessed quality of life (QoL) of patients undergoing surgery for proximal femur fracture and performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of haemostatic drugs for reducing postoperative bleeding.MethodsWe analysed data from an open, multicentre, parallel, randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) that assessed the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid (TXA group) and fibrin glue (FG group) administered topically prior to surgical closure, compared with usual haemostasis methods (control group).For this study we conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of these interventions from the Spanish Health System perspective, using a time horizon of 12 months. The cost was reported in $US purchasing power parity (USPPP). We calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per QALY (quality-adjusted life-year).ResultsWe included 134 consecutive patients from February 2013 to March 2015: 42 patients in the TXA group, 46 in the FG group, and 46 in the control group. Before the fracture, EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) health questionnaire score was 68.6. During the 12 months post-surgery, the intragroup EQ-VAS improved, but without reaching pre-fracture values.There were no differences between groups for EQ-VAS and EuroQol 5 dimensions 5 levels (EQ-5D-5L) health questionnaire score, nor in hospital stay costs or medical complication costs. Nevertheless, the cost of one FG treatment was significantly higher (399.1 $USPPP) than the cost of TXA (12.9 $USPPP) or usual haemostasis (0 $USPPP).When comparing the cost-effectiveness of the interventions, FG was ruled out by simple dominance since it was more costly (13,314.7 $USPPP) than TXA (13,295.2 $USPPP) and less effective (utilities of 0.0532 vs. 0.0734, respectively). TXA compared to usual haemostasis had an ICER of 15,289.6 $USPPP per QALY).ConclusionsThere were no significant differences between the intervention groups in terms of postoperative changes in QoL. However, topical TXA was more cost-effective than FG or usual haemostasis.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02150720. Date of registration 30/05/2014. Retrospectively registered.

Effect of Intraoperative Tranexamic Acid on Perioperative Major Hemorrhage Requiring Transfusion in Patients Undergoing Elective Spine Surgery: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis Using a National Inpatient Database.

Retrospective cohort study. This study aimed to examine whether the use of intravenous TXA in elective spine surgery is associated with reduced perioperative massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion. We extracted all patients who underwent decompression with or without fusion surgery for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine between April 2012 and March 2019. The primary outcome was the occurrence of massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion, defined as at least 560mL of blood transfusion within 2 days of spine surgery or the requirement of additional blood transfusion from 3-7days postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of thrombotic complications (pulmonary embolism, acute coronary syndrome, and stroke) and postoperative hematoma requiring additional surgery. We identified 83,821 eligible patients, with 9747 (12%) patients in the TXA group. Overall, massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion occurred in 781 (.9%) patients. Propensity score matching yielded 8394 pairs. In the matched cohort, the TXA group had a lower proportion of massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion than the control group (.7% vs 1.1%; P = .002). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of thrombotic complications and postoperative hematoma requiring additional surgery between both groups. The multivariable regression analysis also showed that the use of TXA was associated with significantly lower proportions of massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion (odds ratio, .62; 95% confidence interval, .43-.90; P = .012). In this analysis using real-world data, TXA use in elective spinal surgery was associated with reduced perioperative massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion without increasing thrombotic complications. Prognostic Level Ⅲ.

Tranexamic acid alters the immunophenotype of phagocytes after lower limb surgery

BackgroundTranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic agent frequently used in elective surgery to reduce blood loss. We recently found it also acts as a potent immune-modulator in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.MethodsPatients undergoing lower limb surgery were enrolled into the “Tranexamic Acid in Lower Limb Arthroplasty” (TALLAS) pilot study. The cellular immune response was characterised longitudinally pre- and post-operatively using full blood examination (FBE) and comprehensive immune cell phenotyping by flowcytometry. Red blood cells and platelets were determined in the FBE and levels of T cell cytokines and the plasmin-antiplasmin complex determined using ELISA.ResultsTXA administration increased the proportion of circulating CD141+ conventional dendritic cells (cDC) on post-operative day (POD) 3. It also reduced the expression of CD83 and TNFR2 on classical monocytes and levels of circulating IL-10 at the end of surgery (EOS) time point, whilst increasing the expression of CCR4 on natural killer (NK) cells at EOS, and reducing TNFR2 on POD-3 on NK cells. Red blood cells and platelets were decreased to a lower extent at POD-1 in the TXA group, representing reduced blood loss.ConclusionIn this investigation we have extended our examination on the immunomodulatory effects of TXA in surgery by also characterising the end of surgery time point and including B cells and neutrophils in our immune analysis, elucidating new immunophenotypic changes in phagocytes as well as NK cells. This study enhances our understanding of TXA-mediated effects on the haemostatic and immune response in surgery, validating changes in important functional immune cell subsets in orthopaedic patients.

Local Infiltration of Tranexamic Acid During Facelift Improves Operating Room Efficiency: A Matched Patient Study.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) has rapidly gained popularity in aesthetic surgery. Previous reports have suggested that TXA provides a dry surgical field and significantly reduces operating time during facelift surgery. The aim of this study was to build upon earlier findings by providing a large cohort matched alongside historic controls and more clearly document time saved when performing facelift surgery. A retrospective, single-surgeon case-control study was undertaken between July 2016 and October 2021. All patients underwent facelift surgery alone or in combination with fat transfer and perioral chemical peel. All patients received subcutaneous infiltration of 0.5% lidocaine/1:200,000 epinephrine with or without 1 or 2 mg/mL TXA. Patient demographics, TXA dose, surgical time, and minor and major complications were examined. In total 145 consecutive patients were identified: 73 in Group 1 (no-TXA) and 72 in Group 2 (TXA). No differences in terms of gender distribution (P = 0.75), age (P = 0.54), BMI (P = 0.18), frequency of secondary rhytidectomy (P = 0.08), rate of ancillary lipografting (P = 0.44), TXA dose (P = 0.238), and minor complication rate (P = 0.56) were observed. However, mean surgical time in the no-TXA group was 21 minutes longer than in the TXA group (P = 0.016). Six patients (8%) in the no-TXA group experienced minor complications vs 8 patients (11%) in the TXA group. No patients experienced major complications. Although previous studies have highlighted the potential benefits of TXA in aesthetic surgery, most of the data remain subjective and non-validated. This report adds to the objective body of evidence supporting TXA in facial aesthetic surgery by documenting time saved in the operating room without additional surgical morbidity.