Is intravenous tranexamic acid effective in reduction of blood loss during pelvic and acetabular surgery?

Tranexamic Acid and Holding Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Morning of Surgery Do Not Decrease Transfusion Requirements in Patients Undergoing Anterior Intrapelvic Approach for Acetabular Open Reduction and Internal Fixation

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to determine factors that may affect transfusion rates for patients requiring an anterior intrapelvic (AIP) approach for an acetabulum fracture.

METHODS

This was a multicenter retrospective comparison study (3 trauma centers at two urban academic centers). Patients who had an AIP approach for an acetabulum fracture without other notable same-day procedures (irrigation and débridement and/or external fixation were only other allowed procedures) were included. One hundred ninety-five adult (18 and older) patients had adequate records to complete analysis with no preexisting coagulopathy. The main outcome evaluated was the number of units transfused at the time of surgery and up to 7 days after surgery.

RESULTS

Factors that were found to affect intraoperative transfusion rates were older age, lower preoperative hematocrit, longer surgery duration, and requiring increased intraoperative intravenous fluids. Factors that did not affect transfusion rate included sex, body mass index, hip dislocation at the time of injury, fracture pattern, AIP approach alone or with lateral window ± distal extension, Injury Severity Score, preoperative platelet count, use of tranexamic acid, and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis received morning of surgery. When followed out through the remainder of a week after surgery, the results for any factor did not change.

DISCUSSION

In this large multicenter retrospective study of patients requiring an AIP approach, tranexamic acid and use of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis (or holding it the morning of surgery) did not affect transfusion rates either during surgery or up to a week after surgery. Older age, lower preoperative hematocrit level, longer surgery time, and increased intraoperative intravenous fluids were associated with higher transfusion rates.

DATA AVAILABILITY AND TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS

Data are available on request.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 3, retrospective case-control study.

Interaction of preoperative chemoprophylaxis and tranexamic acid use does not affect transfusion in acetabular fracture surgery

PURPOSE

While the effects of tranexamic acid (TXA) use on transfusion rates after acetabular fracture surgery are unclear, previous evidence suggests that holding deep vein thrombosis (DVT) chemoprophylaxis may improve TXA efficacy. This study examines whether holding DVT chemoprophylaxis in patients receiving TXA affects intraoperative and postoperative transfusion rates in acetabular fracture surgery.

METHODS

We reviewed electronic medical records (EMR) of 305 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fractures (AO/OTA 62) and stratified patients per the following perioperative treatment: (1) no intraoperative TXA (noTXA), (2) intraoperative TXA and no preoperative DVT prophylaxis (opTXA/noDVTP), or (3) intraoperative TXA and preoperative DVT prophylaxis (opTXA/opDVTP). The primary outcomes were need for intraoperative or postoperative transfusion. Risk factors for each primary outcome were assessed using multivariable regression.

RESULTS

Intraoperative or postoperative transfusion rates did not significantly differ between opTXA/opDVTP and opTXA/noDVTP groups (46.2% vs. 36%, p = 0.463; 15.4% vs. 28%, p = 0.181). Median units transfused did not differ between groups (2 ± 1 vs. 2 ± 1, p = 0.515; 2 ± 1 vs. 2 ± 0, p = 0.099). There was no association between preoperative DVT chemoprophylaxis and TXA with intraoperative or postoperative transfusions. EBL, preoperative hematocrit, and IV fluids were associated with intraoperative transfusions; age and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were associated with postoperative transfusions.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest holding DVT prophylaxis did not alter the effect of TXA on blood loss or need for transfusion.

Intravenous Tranexamic Acid Reduces Blood Loss in Multilevel Spine Surgeries

INTRODUCTION

Complex spine surgeries are associated with notable blood loss requiring numerous strategies to preserve blood volume. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is efficacious in reducing blood loss when used topically during surgery, intravenously with or without postoperative maintenance treatment. We aimed to evaluate the effect of preoperative weight-independent intravenous administration of 1 g intravenous TXA on perioperative blood loss in lumbar microdiskectomy, single-level lumbar spinal fusion, and multilevel lumbar decompression (two or more levels).

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study comparing patients who underwent microdiskectomy, single-level lumbar fusion, and multilevel laminectomies with and without preoperative IV TXA administration between 2016 and 2020.

RESULTS

Two hundred ten patients underwent spine surgery without preoperative IV TXA administration between 2016 and 2018 compared with 109 patients who received preoperative 1 g of IV TXA between 2018 and 2020. Preoperative IV TXA treatment did not change blood loss after microdiskectomy, 77.2 ± 53.9 mL and 77.2 ± 95.2 mL, respectively ( P = 0.792). Preoperative IV TXA treatment reduced blood loss after multilevel lumbar laminectomy and lumbar posterior spinal fusion with a transforaminal intervertebral fusion (PSF and TLIF) ( P = 0.004 and P = 0.0001, respectively). The same effect was found for intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage, with preoperative TXA administration reducing intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage for the multilevel lumbar laminectomy and lumbar PSF and TLIF cohorts. No IV TXA treatment adverse events were registered in all cohorts.

CONCLUSION

A routine administration of preoperative weight-independent 1 g intravenous TXA protocol is efficacious and safe in reducing perioperative blood loss for lumbar multilevel laminectomies and PSF and TLIFs.