Topical moistening of mastectomy wounds with diluted tranexamic acid to reduce bleeding: randomized clinical trial

Topical Tranexamic Acid (TXA) Decreases Time to Drain Removal, Wound Healing Complications, and Postoperative Blood Loss in Autologous Breast Reconstruction: A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Drain placement is commonplace after many plastic surgery procedures to evacuate excess blood and fluid. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic that has been shown to decrease bleeding and fluid production at surgical sites and can be administered orally, intravenously, and topically. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of topical TXA on drain removal in abdominally based autologous breast reconstruction (ABABR). Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent ABABR from August 2018 to November 2019. In 1 cohort, a 2.5% TXA solution was topically applied to the abdominal wall prior to closure. Drains were removed when output was less than 30 mL/day for 2 consecutive days. The primary outcome was days to drain removal. Secondary outcomes include daily inpatient drain output, postoperative hemoglobin levels, blood transfusions, and complications within 30 days postoperatively. Results: Eighty-three patients were included, with 47 in the control group and 36 in the TXA group. Drains were removed significantly earlier in patients who received TXA (16 days vs 23 days, P = .02). Additionally, significantly fewer patients required postoperative blood transfusions in the TXA group (2 vs 14, P = .005). Abdominal complications were fewer in the TXA group with significantly less wound healing complications (22% vs 49%, P = .01). There was no difference in flap loss or systemic thromboembolic events. Conclusion: Topical TXA use in ABABR results in earlier abdominal drain removal, less blood transfusions, and lower abdominal wound complications without an increased risk of flap loss or adverse patient outcomes.

Reducing the incidence of problematic seroma formation and skin necrosis post-lymphadenectomy: Triple action of topical tranexamic acid, negative pressure wound therapy, and prolonged drainage

BACKGROUND

Axillary and inguinal lymph node dissections are commonly associated with complications that often require additional interventions.

METHODS

Patients who underwent axillary or inguinal lymphadenectomy via standard procedures were compared to an intervention cohort of patients who underwent axillary or inguinal lymphadenectomy with the use of topical tranexamic acid (TXA) to the wound cavity, a PICO (Smith&Nephew UK) closed-incision negative pressure dressing, and discharged early with a drain in-situ.

RESULTS

Seventy-six patients in the control group (mean age 65.8 years, mean BMI 28.4 kg/m2) underwent open lymphadenectomy without topical TXA and a simple dressing. Seventy-eight patients were included in the intervention group (mean age 67.1 years, mean BMI 28.5 kg/m2). Patients in the intervention group had an inpatient stay of mean 5.6 days fewer than those in the control group (CI 3.09-5.31; p < .0001), an estimated saving to the healthcare trust of £ 3046.40 (US$3723.61) per patient in "bed days." They had longer drain duration (mean 15 days vs. 8.3 days); however, they had a statistically significant lower risk of seroma formation requiring drainage (6.4% vs. 21%; p = .009), and skin necrosis (0% vs. 6.6%; p = .027). They also had a lower risk of infection (17% vs. 29%), wound dehiscence (15% vs. 25%), and readmission (7.7% vs. 14%), although they were not statistically significant. Patients in the control group were more likely to receive antibiotics as inpatients (51% vs. 7.7%; p < .00001) and on discharge (24% vs. 5%; p < .0011) than those in the intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS

Topical TXA, PICO dressing, and early discharge with a drain following lymphadenectomy results in a reduced rate of complications.

Temperance With Tranexamic Acid: Increased Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Abdominoplasty

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is used widely in surgery to mitigate blood loss by inhibiting the fibrinolytic degradation of clots. The occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) with TXA has not been reported in the plastic surgery literature. In the realm of plastic surgery, abdominoplasty has the highest rate of VTE. The purpose of this study is to report 5 cases of VTE with TXA. A single surgeon reviewed the records of 5 patients who incurred VTE with TXA. TXA was added to the tumescent fluid, 20 mg/kg total. Four of the 5 patients underwent abdominoplasty combined with liposuction and breast surgery, and the fifth, fat transfer to the breast. The abdominoplasty patients had received chemoprophylaxis. Upon presentation of symptoms, the patients were sent to the hospital for anticoagulation and hematology consultation. The 5 patients survived their VTE events; 2 only required oral anticoagulation, 2 required IV heparin then oral, and 1 required tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) then oral. VTE with abdominoplasty occurred in 0 of 399 cases prior to the use of TXA and in 4 of 98 cases after the use of TXA in the tumescent. Although the occurrence of VTE with abdominoplasty increased with the use of TXA for the senior author, this retrospective case study does not prove a causal relationship between TXA and VTE.

Level of Evidence 4

A systematic review and meta-analysis of systematic and topical tranexamic acid administration in aesthetic plastic surgery

INTRODUCTION

Tranexamic acid has been widely used in plastic surgery. However, its efficacy has yet to be fully established. This meta-analysis aimed to determine its effectiveness in aesthetic plastic surgery.

METHODS

Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a meta-analysis of prospective randomised clinical trials that compared the effects of topical or systematic administration of tranexamic acid versus the control group in aesthetic plastic surgeries. The study was registered on the International Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) and is available online ( www.crd.york.uk/prospero , CRD42023492585).

RESULTS

Eleven studies encompassing 960 patients were included for the synthesis after critical evaluation. Systematic (MD - 18.05, 95% Cl, - 22.01, - 14.09, p < 0.00001) and topical (MD - 74.93, 95% Cl, - 88.79, - 61.07, p < 0.00001) administration of tranexamic acid reduced total blood loss. Topical tranexamic acid reduced drainage output (p < 0.0006).

CONCLUSION

Tranexamic acid reduced blood loss in aesthetic plastic surgery. More strictly defined RCTs, using high-quality methodology, are needed to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of tranexamic acid in aesthetic plastic surgery.

Efficacy of perioperative systemic tranexamic acid along with topical hemocoagulase in decreasing axillary drain output in breast cancer patients undergoing axillary lymph node dissection: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, superiority trial

BACKGROUND

Excess and prolonged axillary drainage is a frequent nuisance following axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in breast cancer patients. No consensus exists about the best method to prevent this consistently and reliably. Tranexamic acid (TA) has been found to reduce the amount and duration of drainage, but the reduction is not optimal. We hypothesized that systemic administration of TA along with the topical application of hemocoagulase (H) to the axillary dissection bed may decrease the cumulative axillary drain output and shorten the requirement of drainage after ALND as compared to placebo.

PATIENT AND METHODS

Seventy women undergoing ALND for breast carcinoma were randomized into two groups, the intervention (TA + H) group and the control (C) group. The cumulative drain output (primary objective), duration of drainage, incidence of seroma formation after drain removal, number of seroma aspirations required, volume of seroma aspirated, and incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) were compared.

RESULTS

The mean cumulative output in the TA + H group was significantly lower than the C group (290 ± 200 mL vs. 552 ± 369 mL, p < 0.001). Axillary drains were removed significantly earlier in the TA + H group (6.6 ± 2.2 vs. 11.7 ± 6.0 days, p < 0.001), but the incidence of seroma formation (p = 0.34), number of aspirations required (p = 0.33), volume of seroma aspirated (p = 0.47), and the incidence of SSI (p = 0.07) were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative systemic administration of tranexamic acid along with topical application of H to the axillary dissection bed is effective in reducing cumulative axillary drain output after ALND. This strategy may also facilitate earlier removal of suction drains.

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

BACKGROUND

The 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).

METHODS

A 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).

RESULTS

A 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 24 hours 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.

CONCLUSIONS

Rinsing 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.

Topical Tranexamic Acid: Risks, Benefits and Novel Complications in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Antifibrinolytics, particularly tranexamic acid (TXA), are agents used to reduce bleeding. TXA is a synthetic reversible competitive inhibitor to the lysine receptor found on plasminogen. By reversibly binding to this site, it leads to plasminogen being unable to bind to fibrin and so prevents fibrinolysis, this stabilizes the clot and thus prevents hemorrhage. (Pekrul in Der Anaesth 70:515-521, 2021) It can be used either intravenously or topically but has never entered mainstream use in plastic surgery. (Pekrul in Der Anaesth 70:515-521, 2021) This is most likely due to understandable fears of thromboembolic events. On the other hand, the tempting benefits are reduced bleeding (perioperatively) decreased bruising and swelling, and thus increased aesthetic, important for obvious reasons. A review of the literature was done to go deeper on this issue, examining topical use in aesthetic surgery. Clear benefit was shown in the literature, it could be postulated that it would not be unwise to consider more research on topical use of TXA in certain cases, the benefits could greatly outweigh the risks. Old fears and conceptions, unsupported by the literature at the time of writing, should not hold back further research, and the benefits shown could even potentially justify the topical use of these agents in the near future. Further studies evaluating the utility of TXA in Panniculectomy and Abdominoplasty surgery should be performed especially, since only one was found which reported no significant benefit. Minor complications were present, such as minor delayed post-auricular skin healing, temporary unilateral marginal mandibular neuropraxia and increased cumulative seroma volume. These were novel findings and could warrant further investigation as well. After performing a review of the literature, it was seen that topical TXA generally adds benefit in aesthetic plastic surgery, with no particularly significant complications. We would like to bring more attention to the issue and support more studies on TXA use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This 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 .

The Effects of Tranexamic Acid in Breast Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is used in trauma and surgical settings. Its role in reducing postoperative blood loss in breast surgery remains unclear. The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of TXA on postoperative blood loss in breast surgery.

METHODS

Searches of the PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were performed from inception to April 3, 2020. Inclusion criteria were any retrospective reviews, prospective cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials that administered TXA (topical or intravenously) in the context of breast surgery. Quality of studies were evaluated using the risk of bias in randomized trials tool and the risk of bias in nonrandomized studies of interventions tool. Data were pooled, and a meta-analysis was performed.

RESULTS

In total, seven studies were included, representing 1226 patients (TXA, 632 patients; control, 622 patients). TXA was administered as follows: topically (20 mL of 25 mg/mL TXA intraoperatively; n =258 patients), intravenously (1 to 3 g perioperatively; n = 743 patients), or both (1 to 3 g daily up to 5 days postoperatively; n = 253 patients). TXA administration reduced hematoma formation in breast surgery (risk ratio, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.32 to 0.73), with no effect on drain output (mean difference, -84.12 mL; 95% CI, -206.53 to 38.29 mL), seroma formation (risk ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.60 to 1.40), or infection rates (risk ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.46 to 2.21). No adverse effects were reported.

CONCLUSION

The use of TXA in breast surgery is a safe and effective modality with low-level evidence that it reduces hematoma rates without affecting seroma rates, postoperative drain output, or infection rates.

Reviewing the Impact of Topical and Intravenous Tranexamic Acid Use in Breast Plastic Surgery

BACKGROUND

Topical and intravenous uses of tranexamic acid (TXA) have been shown to reduce bleeding and ecchymosis in various surgical fields. However, there is a lack of data evaluating the efficacy of TXA in breast surgery. This systematic review evaluates the impact of TXA on hematoma and seroma incidence in breast plastic surgery.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed for all studies that evaluated the use of TXA in breast surgery including reduction mammoplasty, gynecomastia surgery, masculinizing chest surgery, or mastectomy. Outcomes of interest included rate of hematoma, seroma, and drain output.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria with a total of 3297 breasts, of which 1656 were treated with any TXA, 745 with topical TXA, and 1641 were controls. There was a statistically significant decrease in hematoma formation seen in patients who received any form of TXA compared with control (odds ratio [OR], 0.37; P < 0.001), and a similar tendency toward decreased hematoma with topically treated TXA (OR, 0.42; P = 0.06). There was no significant difference in seroma formation with any TXA (OR, 0.84; P = 0.33) or topical TXA (OR, 0.91; P = 0.70). When stratified by surgery, there was a 75% decrease in the odds of hematoma formation with any TXA compared with the control for oncologic mastectomy (OR, 0.25; P = 0.003) and a 56% decrease in nononcologic breast surgery (OR, 0.44; P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

This review suggests that TXA may significantly reduce hematoma formation in breast surgery and may also decrease seroma and drain output. Future high-quality prospective studies are required to evaluate the utility of topical and intravenous TXA in decreasing hematoma, seroma, and drain output in breast surgery patients.

Topical Tranexamic Acid in Breast Reconstruction: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Excess fluid accumulation (seroma/hematoma) around the breast implant after reconstruction can lead to significant complications. Topical administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) may reduce fluid accumulation and reduce postoperative complications. This trial aims to investigate whether TXA-treated mastectomy pockets will exhibit less postoperative fluid production and complications.

METHODS

This paired, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial enrolled patients undergoing bilateral mastectomies with immediate direct-to-implant reconstruction. In each patient, one breast was randomized to receive 3 g of TXA (100 cc), and the other received 100 cc of normal saline. The blinded solutions were soaked in the mastectomy pocket for 5 minutes before implant placement. Postoperatively, daily drain outputs, complications, and baseline demographics were recorded.

RESULTS

Fifty-three eligible patients, representing 106 breasts, were enrolled. All patients underwent bilateral nipple-sparing mastectomies. After randomization, TXA was placed in the right breast in 30 patients (56.6%). The use of topical TXA resulted in a mean drain output reduction of 30.5% (range, -83.6% to 26.6%). Drains on the TXA-treated breast were eligible for removal 1.4 days (range, 0 to 4 days) sooner than the control side. The TXA-treated group had three complications (5.67%) versus 15 (28.3%) in the control group (OR, 0.1920; P = 0.0129). Specifically, for operative hematomas, the TXA group had none (0%), versus three in the control group (5.7%) (OR, 0.1348; P = 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS

Soaking the mastectomy bed with 3% topical TXA before implant insertion leads to a decrease in drain output and a decrease in complications. Topical administration of TXA represents an option to decrease complications in alloplastic breast reconstruction.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, I.

[Role of Tranexamic Acid in Plastic Surgery: a Systematic Review]

BACKGROUND

Bleeding events in surgery are a problem and can lead to revision surgery and bleeding anaemia, which sometimes must be treated by blood transfusion. Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic agent and is already known for its role in the prevention and treatment of perioperative bleeding in the fields of orthopaedics, cardiovascular surgery and gynaecology. In plastic surgery, the use of tranexamic acid is increasing in popularity and has already been described in individual studies.

METHODS

A literature search was performed using the database MEDLINE from the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM). The keywords "tranexamic acid in plastic surgery", "intravenous tranexamic acid in plastic surgery", "topical tranexamic acid in plastic surgery" and "subcutaneous tranexamic acid in plastic surgery" were used. The search was limited to the period from 2010 to 2023. The studies were analysed according to the level of evidence, validity and availability and divided into three groups for the topical, intravenous or subcutaneous application of tranexamic acid. Randomised controlled trials and non-randomised prospective and retrospective cohort studies were included in the systematic review. Studies from other disciplines, review articles, technical notes, experimental studies, letters to the editor, comments and case reports were excluded.

RESULTS

The literature search resulted in a total of 135 papers. Of these, 56 papers were assessed as relevant to plastic surgery. After further analysis, 41 papers were excluded using the exclusion criteria described above. Fifteen studies were finally included in the present work and recommendations for possible applications such as intravenous, topical and subcutaneous application of tranexamic acid, including the indications, contraindications and dosage formulas were developed.

DISCUSSION

Although the current study situation on the use of tranexamic acid is limited, the results show more advantages than disadvantages for perioperative use. Establishing the use of tranexamic acid in plastic surgery could facilitate the reduction of perioperative bleeding and lead to more precision in surgery, and it could enable a rapid removal of drains. However, following the analysis of benefit and risk factors, further randomised controlled trials are required for use in plastic surgery.

The Usage of Intravenous Tranexamic Acid in Reduction Mammaplasty Safely Reduces Hematoma Rates

BACKGROUND

Bleeding complications are not uncommon after breast reduction surgery, and recently, tranexamic acid (TXA) as an antifibrinolytic agent has been used in various surgical specialties as a way to minimizes such adverse outcomes. We elected to evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous (IV) intraoperative TXA in reduction mammoplasty patients.

METHODS

This is a retrospective chart review of clinical charts of all patients who received reduction mammoplasty by a single surgeon at Emory University Hospital or its affiliated Aesthetic Center from January 1, 2020, to March 1, 2022. Seventy-four consecutive breast reduction patients received 1-g IV TXA intraoperatively compared with 117 consecutive controls. The outcome of interest included 30-day postoperative bleeding complications.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in age ( P = 0.92), body mass index ( P = 0.98), percentage of smokers ( P = 0.56), operating time ( P = 0.87), estimated blood loss ( P = 0.90), or weight removed ( P = 0.98) between patients in each arm. There were 19 bleeding events (16.2%) in the non-TXA arm compared with 1 bleeding event (1.4%) in the TXA arm ( P = 0.0143). Of the 19, 6 (5.1%) were major events, and 13 were minor events (11.1%); the only bleeding event in the TXA arm was minor. Number needed to treat all bleeding events with use of TXA was 7, and the number needed to treat minor hematomas was 11. There was no significant difference in the rate of seroma, wound healing complications, infection, or nipple necrosis between the 2 arms ( P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of IV TXA is a safe and effective way to reduce hematoma rates in patients receiving reduction mammoplasty.

Topical tranexamic acid reduces postoperative hematomas in reduction mammaplasties

BACKGROUND

Postoperative bleeding requiring reoperation is an untoward event in breast surgery. Topical tranexamic acid (TXA) has been routinely used to reduce the risk of postoperative bleeding in some surgical fields. In breast surgery, it is not routinely used owing to scarce information. We investigated whether the intraoperatively applied topical TXA reduces the incidence of postoperative hematoma in reduction mammaplasty surgeries.

METHODS

This retrospective, single-center cohort study comprises of 415 consecutive patients who underwent reduction mammaplasty between 2019 and 2021. The prophylactic use of topically applied TXA (20 mg/ml) was implemented as a part of the hospital protocol in November 2020. The patients who were rinsed with TXA before the wound closure were compared with those who were not rinsed. The results were analyzed using statistical tests, two-sided Pearson's Chi-Square and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTS

Topical TXA significantly reduced the number of postoperative hematomas requiring evacuation (p = 0.008). In the non-TXA control group, 12 (5.8%) hematomas were observed out of 208 patients. In the topical TXA group, only one (0.6%) hematoma occurred among the 168 patients. A tendency towards fewer wound infections, seromas, and other minor wound-healing problems can also be seen in the topical TXA group (ns). No adverse events of topical TXA were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of postoperative hematomas decreased to a tenth after the introduction of topical TXA in reduction mammaplasty surgeries. This simple procedure may save patients from reoperations owing to bleeding. Randomized controlled trials are warranted.

Chest Wall Contouring in Transgender Men: A 20-Year Experience from a National Center

Several western countries have experienced a drastic increase of referrals to specialist gender services of transgender and gender-diverse people. Chest wall contouring is an important element in treatment of gender dysphoria. National data concerning this group have yet to be investigated. The aim of this study was to examine and evaluate the techniques and surgical outcome of chest wall contouring from the last 20 years from a single center in Norway.

Methods

This study is a retrospective review of all female-to-male patients who underwent chest wall contouring surgery at Oslo University Hospital between 2000 and 2020. Statistical analysis with comparison of techniques and evaluation of development over time was examined.

Results

In total, 333 patients underwent bilateral chest wall contouring, 209 (62.8%) with inframammary incision with free nipple graft (IM), and 124 (37.2%) with periareolar technique (PA). In 20 years, the average age decreased from 31 (19-68) to 24.9 years (17-61). Average body mass index was significantly lower in the PA-group than in the IM-group. Complication rate was 20.7%, with postoperative bleeding being the most frequent (9.6%). Revision surgery was required in 24.9% of the cases; periareolar technique required significantly more procedures.

Conclusions

The number of patients referred and operated on has increased drastically over a 20-year period. When comparing the techniques, the outcome concerning complications and revisions is at an acceptable level. Postoperative bleeding and revision surgery occur more often with the periareolar technique. There remains a knowledge gap concerning quality of life and satisfaction after surgery within this patient group.

The role of tranexamic acid in reducing post-operative bleeding and seroma formation in breast surgery: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces blood loss and blood transfusion requirements in surgery. Seroma and haematoma formation occur as complications of breast surgery. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis evaluating TXA in reducing post-operative haematoma and seroma formation for breast surgery.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results were expressed as dichotomous variables pooled as odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the Mantel-Haenszel method.

RESULTS

Seven studies including 1446 patients were included. There were 1830 breast surgery procedures performed with TXA administered in 797 cases (43.6%). There was a significant reduction in haematoma rates in the TXA group (TXA: 3.184% (22/691) vs Control: 6.787% (64/943), OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.20-0.86, P = 0.020). Based on surgical procedure, haematoma rates were similar for TXA and control groups in cancer surgery (P = 0.230). Haematoma rates reduced following TXA use in cosmetic procedures (TXA: 3.807% (15/394) vs. Control: 9.091% (34/374), OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.22-0.75, P = 0.004). Haematoma rates were also reduced in procedures where axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was not performed; in the TXA group, 3.379% (22/651) developed a haematoma versus 6.623% (60/906) in the control group (OR: 0.45, 95% CI 0.27-0.77, P = 0.003). TXA administration did not impact seroma formation or infection rates.

CONCLUSION

Perioperative administration of TXA may impact the incidence of haematoma in breast surgery, particularly in cosmetic procedures and procedures without ALND. Well-designed randomised studies are required to determine its true efficacy. TXA has no effect on seroma formation or infection in breast surgery.

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

BACKGROUND

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.

METHODS

Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. After mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection, 0.4 mL of normal saline was administered to group A in the dead space. In group B, 0.4 mL of a triamcinolone mixed solution was administered. In group C, 0.4 mL of a tranexamic acid (10 mg/kg) mixed solution was administered. In group D, 0.4 mL of a tranexamic acid (50 mg/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.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSIONS

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.

NO LEVEL ASSIGNED

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 .

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

INTRODUCTION

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.

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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%).

DISCUSSION

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.

The role of tranexamic acid in breast and body contouring surgery: a review of the literature

Background: Postoperative seroma and haematoma are two of the most common complications follow-ing large surface area surgeries. A review of the literature was performed to evaluate evidence for the use of tranexamic acid in reducing postoperative seroma and haematoma formation in breast surgery and body contouring surgery. Methods A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Ef-fect (DARE) and PubMed in English from 1 Jan 1990–30 Mar 2020. The search terms ‘TXA’, ‘breast reduction’, ‘mammaplasty’, ‘breast implants’, ‘breast implantation’, ‘breast reconstruction’, ‘mastectomy’, ‘tissue ex-pansion’, ‘body contouring’, ‘breast’ and ‘abdominoplasty’ were used alone and in combination. Results: A total of six articles were found including three randomised controlled trials, two cohort studies and one retrospective study. Two ongoing trials were found on The Cochrane Central Register of Con-trolled Trials (CENTRAL). No systematic reviews were found. Conclusion: Literature surrounding the use of TXA in breast and body contouring surgery is sparse com-pared to what is available in other surgical sub-specialties. The literature available shows promising results with the use of TXA in controlling haematoma, drain output and seroma formation in breast surgery and body contouring surgery with minimal morbidity in these patient groups.

Safety and Efficacy of Local Tranexamic Acid for the Prevention of Surgical Bleeding in Soft-Tissue Surgery: A Review of the Literature and Recommendations for Plastic Surgery

Background:

Although high-bleed surgery routinely utilizes the antifibrinolytic drug tranexamic acid, most plastic surgical procedures are conducted in soft tissue with low-volume bleeding. Unease regarding possible systemic adverse effects prevents widespread systemic use, but local use of tranexamic acid is gaining popularity among plastic surgeons. Randomized controlled trials on topical use of tranexamic acid are mainly from high-bleed surgeries, and few studies address the effect in soft tissue. This article reviews the scientific evidence regarding local use of tranexamic acid in soft-tissue surgery, discusses pharmacological effects and possible adverse reactions, and presents recommendations for use in plastic surgery.

Methods:

A systematic search of databases for studies on local use of tranexamic acid in soft-tissue surgery was performed. Randomized controlled trials were included for a systematic review on effect; a narrative review regarding other clinically relevant aspects is based on extensive literature searches combined with the authors’ own research.

Results:

Fourteen randomized controlled trials, including 1923 patients, were included in the systematic review on local use of tranexamic acid in soft-tissue surgery.

Conclusions:

Local use of tranexamic acid may reduce blood loss comparably to intravenous prophylactic use with negligible risk of systemic adverse effects, but high-quality randomized controlled trials are few. Prolonged exposure to high local concentrations is discouraged, and direct contact with the central nervous system may cause seizures. No single superior means of administration or dosage is supported in the literature, and lowest effective dose is unknown. There may not be one single ideal dosing regimen, but rather many possibilities adaptable for different surgical situations.

Hematoma After Non-Oncologic Breast Procedures: A Comprehensive Review of the Evidence

BACKGROUND

Hematoma after non-oncologic breast surgery is a common concern requiring expeditious treatment. The purpose of this study is to perform an evidence-based review of perioperative factors that may contribute to hematoma in non-oncologic breast procedures.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was performed of non-oncologic breast procedures: breast augmentation, single-stage augmentation-mastopexy, mastopexy, and reduction. In total, 28 studies highlighting incidence and potential risk factors for hematoma were included; overall level of evidence was established regarding each perioperative factor examined and hematoma rate.

RESULTS

The hematoma rate in breast augmentation ranges from 0.2 to 5.7%. There is inconclusive evidence to support an association between pocket choice or incision location and hematoma rate (Level III) and no evidence of an association between implant type and hematoma (Level V). Single-stage augmentation-mastopexy may have a lower hematoma rate than augmentation alone (Level II). Hematoma may increase the risk of capsular contracture (Level III). In breast reduction, the hematoma rate ranges from 1.0 to 9.3%. Evidence of an association between incision choice and hematoma rate is inconclusive (Level III). Use of epinephrine-containing solution, pedicle choice, and resection weight do not appear to affect hematoma rate (Level V, II, and II, respectively). The use of postoperative drains and ketorolac do not affect the incidence of hematoma (Level I and III, respectively). Intraoperative hypotension may increase the risk of hematoma after breast reduction (Level III).

CONCLUSIONS

Breast hematomas are not uncommon complications. Current literature lacks ample evidence for risk factors for hematoma after non-oncologic breast procedures, warranting further, high-powered investigations.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This 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 .

Local Infiltration of Tranexamic Acid (TXA) in Liposuction: A Single-Surgeon Outcomes Analysis and Considerations for Minimizing Postoperative Donor Site Ecchymosis

BACKGROUND

Tranexamic acid (TXA) has gained increasing recognition in plastic surgery as a dependable adjunct capable of minimizing blood loss, ecchymosis, and edema. To date, there have been limited data on the utilization of TXA to mitigate liposuction donor site ecchymosis.

OBJECTIVES

The authors sought to investigate whether infiltration of TXA into liposuction donor sites safely reduces postoperative ecchymosis.

METHODS

A single-surgeon retrospective cohort study was performed to analyze patients undergoing autologous fat transfer for breast reconstruction between 2016 and 2019. Following lipoaspiration, patients in the intervention group received 75 mL of TXA (3 g in NaCl 0.9%) infiltrated into the liposuction donor sites, whereas the historical controls did not. Patient demographics, degree of ecchymosis, surgical complications, and thromboembolic events were examined. A blinded assessment of postoperative photographs of the donor sites was performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 120 autologous fat grafting procedures were reviewed. Sixty patients received TXA, whereas 60 patients did not. Patient demographics and comorbidities were similar among the groups. No difference existed between groups regarding donor site locations, tumescent volume, lipoaspirate volume, or time to postoperative photograph. Ten blinded evaluators completed the assessment. The median bruising score of patients who received TXA was significantly lower than that of patients who did not (1.6/10 vs 2.3/10, P = 0.01). Postoperative complications were similar among the groups. Adverse effects of TXA were not observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who received local infiltration of TXA into the liposuction donor sites were found to have less donor site ecchymosis than patients who did not. Further prospective randomized studies are warranted.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4

A Systematic Review of Tranexamic Acid in Plastic Surgery: What's New?

BACKGROUND

Blood loss associated with surgical interventions can lead to several complications. Therefore, minimizing perioperative bleeding is critical to improve overall survival. Several interventions have been found to successfully reduce surgical bleeding, including the antifibrinolytic agent. After aprotinin was withdrawn from the market in 2008, TXA remained the most commonly used medication. The safety and efficacy of TXA has been well studied in other specialties. TXA has been rarely used in plastic surgery, except in craniofacial procedures. Since the last review, the number of articles examining the use of TXA has doubled; so the aim of this systematic review is to update the readers on the current knowledge and clinical recommendations regarding the efficacy of TXA in plastic surgical procedures.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline, SciELO, Cochrane, and Google Scholar to evaluate all articles that discussed the use of TXA in plastic surgery in the fields of aesthetic surgery, burn care, and reconstructive microsurgery.

RESULTS

A total of 233 publications were identified using the search criteria defined above. After examination of titles and abstracts, and exclusion of duplicates, a total of 23 articles were selected for analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The literature shows a clear benefit of using TXA to decrease blood loss regardless of the administration route, with no risk of thrombosis events. Also, TXA elicits a potent anti-inflammatory response with a decrease in postoperative edema and ecchymosis, which improves recovery time. Further investigations are needed to standardize the optimal administration route and dosage of TXA.