Efficacy and Safety of Tranexamic Acid in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Effects of Tranexamic Acid in Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Brazil: A Prospective Observational Study with Propensity Score Analysis

BACKGROUND

Rebleeding from a ruptured aneurysm increases the risk of unfavorable outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and is prevented by early aneurysm occlusion. The role of antifibrinolytics before aneurysm obliteration remains controversial. We investigated the effects of tranexamic acid on long-term functional outcomes of patients with aneurysmal SAH (aSAH).

METHODS

This was a single-center, prospective, observational study conducted in a high-volume tertiary hospital in a middle-income country from December 2016 to February 2020. We included all consecutive patients with aSAH who either received or did not receive tranexamic acid (TXA) treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using propensity score was used to evaluate the association of TXA use with long-term functional outcomes, measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 6 months.

RESULTS

A total of 230 patients with aSAH were analyzed. The median (interquartile range) age was 55 (46-63) years, 72% were women, 75% presented with good clinical grade (World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grade 1-3), and 83% had a Fisher scale of 3 or 4. Around 80% of patients were admitted up to 72 h from ictus. The aneurysm occlusion method was surgical clipping in 80% of the patients. A total of 129 patients (56%) received TXA. In multivariable logistic regression using inverse probability treatment weighting, the long-term rate of unfavorable outcomes (modified Rankin scale 4-6) was the same in the TXA and non-TXA groups (61 [48%] in TXA group vs. 33 [33%] in non-TXA group; odds ratio [OR] 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-2.92; p = 0.377). The TXA group had higher in-hospital mortality (33 vs. 11% in non-TXA group; OR 4.13, 95% CI 1.55-12.53, p = 0.007). There were no differences between the groups concerning intensive care unit length of stay (16 ± 11.22 days in TXA group vs. 14 ± 9.24 days in non-TXA group; p = 0.2) or hospital (23 ± 13.35 days in TXA group vs. 22 ± 13.36 days in non-TXA group; p = 0.9). There was no difference in the rates of rebleeding (7.8% in TXA group vs. 8.9% in non-TXA group; p = 0.31) or delayed cerebral ischemia (27% in TXA group vs. 19% in non-TXA group; p = 0.14). For the propensity-matched analysis, 128 individuals were selected (64 in TXA group and 64 in non-TXA group), and the rates of unfavorable outcomes at 6 months were also similar between groups (45% in TXA group and 36% in non-TXA group; OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.51-2.89; p = 0.655).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings in a cohort with delayed aneurysm treatment reinforce previous data that TXA use before aneurysm occlusion does not improve functional outcomes in aSAH.

2023 Guideline for the Management of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Guideline From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

AIM

The "2023 Guideline for the Management of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage" replaces the 2012 "Guidelines for the Management of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage." The 2023 guideline is intended to provide patient-centric recommendations for clinicians to prevent, diagnose, and manage patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

METHODS

A comprehensive search for literature published since the 2012 guideline, derived from research principally involving human subjects, published in English, and indexed in MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline, was conducted between March 2022 and June 2022. In addition, the guideline writing group reviewed documents on related subject matter previously published by the American Heart Association. Newer studies published between July 2022 and November 2022 that affected recommendation content, Class of Recommendation, or Level of Evidence were included if appropriate. Structure: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a significant global public health threat and a severely morbid and often deadly condition. The 2023 aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage guideline provides recommendations based on current evidence for the treatment of these patients. The recommendations present an evidence-based approach to preventing, diagnosing, and managing patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, with the intent to improve quality of care and align with patients' and their families' and caregivers' interests. Many recommendations from the previous aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data.

The Safety and Effectiveness of Tranexamic Acid in Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery: An Updated Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVE

Several previous meta-analyses have been published, followed by additional randomized clinical trials investigating the effects of tranexamic acid (TXA) in patients undergoing posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) surgery. As a result, the purpose of this research is to present an updated quantitative analysis of the existing literature and to further explicate its effectiveness.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the application of TXA and placebo in patients undergoing PLIF surgery from their establishment to December 31, 2021. Data on clinical outcomes, perioperative outcomes, and complications were collected. The summary statistics for continuous and dichotomous variables were derived as weighted mean difference (WMD) and relative risk (RR), respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies enrolling 1088 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The combined results revealed that TXA can decrease intraoperative blood loss (WMD: -84.83, P < 0.0001), total blood loss (WMD: -189.93, P < 0.00001), hidden blood loss (WMD: -134.69, P = 0.002), postoperative drainage (WMD: -100.71, P < 0.00001), postoperative hemoglobin loss (WMD: 6.21, P < 0.00001), operative time (WMD: -3.80, P = 0.007), hospital stay (WMD: -1.86, P = 0.001), and transfusion rates (RR: 0.41, P < 0.00001) in PLIF without increasing the risk of thromboembolic events (RR: 0.80, P = 0.43).

CONCLUSIONS

TXA can considerably decrease surgical blood loss, postoperative drainage, reduce operative times, hospital stays, and transfusion rates. Furthermore, the TXA group had lower postoperative hemoglobin drop values than the placebo group.

Appraising the use of tranexamic acid in traumatic and non‐traumatic intracranial hemorrhage: A narrative review

Recently there has been increasing interest and debate on the use of tranexamic acid (TXA), an antifibrinolytic drug, in both traumatic and non‐traumatic intracranial hemorrhage. In this review we aim to discuss recent investigations looking at TXA in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and different categories of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. We also discuss differences between setting (hospital vs pre‐hospital), dosing and timing strategies, and other logistical challenges surrounding optimal use of TXA for isolated intracranial hemorrhage. Last, we hope to provide guidance for clinicians when considering the use of TXA in a patient with traumatic or non‐traumatic intracranial hemorrhage based on appraisal of the available literature as well as some potential ideas for future research in this area.