Process Improvement Project Using Tranexamic Acid Is Cost-Effective in Reducing Blood Loss and Transfusions After Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background and Hypothesis: Tranexamic acid (TXA) decreases blood loss in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, TXA evoked pain in rats by inhibiting GABA and glycine receptors in the spinal dorsal horn, and caused cellular death in ex vivo and in vitro human periarticular tissues exposed to clinical concentrations of TXA. We evaluated inpatient postoperative pain and blood loss in TKA performed with and without TXA. Project Methods: 105 consecutive cemented TKAs without TXA were compared to 72 consecutive cemented TKAs with TXA. Procedures were performed by a single surgeon using identical perioperative medical and pain-control protocols. Outcomes included: average of q2-4 hour pain scores during the first 24 hours after PACU discharge, average pain during remainder of stay, final pain score prior to discharge, time in minutes to first opioid after PACU discharge, total opioids in morphine equivalents (MEQs) during the first 24 hours after PACU discharge, average MEQs per remaining days of stay, and mean g/dL pre- to postoperative decrease in hemoglobin. Multivariate analyses accounted for 15 demographics and covariates. Results: The sex (p=0.393), age (p=0.784), and BMI (p=0.930) of the two cohorts were similar. Mean pain during the first 24 hours was greater (4.1 vs. 3.2, p=0.001), MEQs consumed during the first 24 hours were greater (45 vs. 37, p=0.069), and time to first opioid medication was shorter (326 vs. 414, p=0.023) in patients who received TXA. The decrease in hemoglobin was less in patients who received TXA (-2.2 vs. -2.7, p<0.001). Conclusion and Potential Impact: Our hypothesis based on animal and laboratory studies that TXA may increase early postoperative pain was confirmed by three metrics. Consistent with the effective life of TXA, pain and opioid consumption after 24 hours did not differ based on TXA use. Further work is warranted to investigate the nature consequences associated with TXA, relative to its demonstrated benefits for blood conservation.

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Different Doses of Intravenous Tranexamic Acid in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Study

The Journal of Knee Surgery ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1740585 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Liyile Chen ◽

Chenchen Zhao ◽

Yue Luo ◽

Qiuru Wang ◽

Qianhao Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Blood Loss ◽

Tranexamic Acid ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Total Knee ◽

Revision Tka ◽

Different Doses

Abstract Purpose This article assessed the efficacy and safety of different doses of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods We retrospectively identified 122 patients in our institution who underwent revision TKA with a history of perioperative intravenous TXA utilization. According to the sum of intravenous TXA documented, all patients were divided into three groups: 1 g intravenous TXA, 2 g intravenous TXA, and equal or greater than 3 g intravenous TXA. The primary outcomes included total blood loss (TBL), hidden blood loss (HBL), transfusion rate, and the incidence of symptomatic venous thromboembolism among the three groups. A correlation analysis was conducted to analyze the correlation between the dose of TXA and the blood loss. Results In total, there was no significance difference in TBL and revised HBL (rHBL) between the first two groups (1 g/dL for intravenous TXA, 2 g/dL for intravenous TXA; p = 0.486; p = 0.525). Equal or greater than 3 g intravenous TXA (≥3 g/dL for intravenous TXA) reached a significant reduction in TBL, rHBL, and length of stay compared with the first two groups (p = 0.01; p = 0.01; p = 0.01). The rate of transfusion between the three groups did not differ significantly (p = 0.21). Due to the limitations in sample size, only one symptomatic venous thromboembolism was reported in the 1 g intravenous TXA group. Conclusion Applying the dose of intravenous TXA equal or greater than 3 g in revision TKA might further reduce the blood loss and shorten the length of stay.

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