High-dose tranexamic Acid is associated with nonischemic clinical seizures in cardiac surgical patients.
BACKGROUND
In 2 separate centers, we observed a notable increase in the incidence of postoperative convulsive seizures from 1.3% to 3.8% in patients having undergone major cardiac surgical procedures. These events were temporally coincident with the initial use of high-dose tranexamic acid (TXA) therapy after withdrawal of aprotinin from general clinical usage. The purpose of this review was to perform a retrospective analysis to examine whether there was a relation between TXA usage and seizures after cardiac surgery.


METHODS
An in-depth chart review was undertaken in all 24 patients who developed perioperative seizures. Electroencephalographic activity was recorded in 11 of these patients, and all patients had a formal neurological evaluation and brain imaging studies.


RESULTS
Twenty-one of the 24 patients did not have evidence of new cerebral ischemic injury, but seizures were likely due to ischemic brain injury in 3 patients. All patients with seizures did not have permanent neurological abnormalities. All 24 patients with seizures received high doses of TXA intraoperatively ranging from 61 to 259 mg/kg, had a mean age of 69.9 years, and 21 of 24 had undergone open chamber rather than coronary bypass procedures. All but one patient were managed using cardiopulmonary bypass. No evidence of brain ischemic, metabolic, or hyperthermia-induced causes for their seizures was apparent.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that use of high-dose TXA in older patients in conjunction with cardiopulmonary bypass and open-chamber cardiac surgery is associated with clinical seizures in susceptible patients.
Murkin
John M
JM
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University Hospital-LHSC, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. john.murkin@lhsc.on.c
Falter
Florian
F
Granton
Jeff
J
Young
Bryan
B
Burt
Christiana
C
Chu
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014148:Tranexamic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D014148:Tranexamic Acid