title: Use of tranexamic acid is a cost effective method in preventing blood loss during and after total knee replacement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Allogenic blood transfusion in elective orthopaedic surgery is best avoided owing to its associated risks. Total knee replacement often requires blood transfusion, more so when bilateral surgery is performed. Many strategies are currently being employed to reduce the amount of peri-operative allogenic transfusions. Anti-fibrinolytic compounds such as aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid have been used systemically in perioperative settings with promising results. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in reducing allogenic blood transfusion in total knee replacement surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study conducted on patients undergoing total knee replacement during the time period November 2005 to November 2008. Study population was 99 patients, of which 70 underwent unilateral and 29 bilateral knee replacement. Forty-seven patients with 62 (49.5%) knees (group-I) had received tranexamic acid (by surgeon preference) while the remaining fifty-two patients with 66 (51.5%) knees (group-II) had did not received any tranexamic acid either pre- or post-operatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean drop in the post-operative haemoglobin concentration in Group-II for unilateral and bilateral cases was 1.79 gm/dl and 2.21 gm/dl, with a mean post-operative drainage of 1828 ml (unilateral) and 2695 ml (bilateral). In comparison, the mean drop in the post-op haemoglobin in Group-I was 1.49 gm/dl (unilateral) and 1.94 gm/dl (bilateral), with a mean drainage of 826 ml (unilateral) and 1288 ml (bilateral) (p-value < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tranexamic acid is effective in reducing post-operative drainage and requirement of blood transfusion after knee replacement.
authors: Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi-74800, Pakistan.
authors: Yasir J
authors: YJ
authors: Sepah
authors: Masood
authors: M
authors: Umer
authors: Tashfeen
authors: T
authors: Ahmad
authors: Faria
authors: F
authors: Nasim
authors: Muhammad Umer
authors: MU
authors: Chaudhry
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Umar
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