title: Should antifibrinolytics be given in all patients with trauma?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hemorrhage is the second most important cause of death in patients with trauma, contributing to approximately 30% of trauma-related mortality. Pharmacological prohemostatic agents may be useful adjunctive treatment options in patients with severe blood loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tranexamic acid was evaluated in a large international randomized controlled study in patients with trauma and severe blood loss. The drug was shown to reduce death due to bleeding, provided the treatment was given within 3 h after injury. Tranexamic acid treatment did not result in serious adverse events nor thrombotic complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of this efficacy and safety of this relatively cheap and simple drug, it may be recommended to put tranexamic acid in the first (maybe even prehospital) line of management of patients with severe traumatic hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.m.levi@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levi
mesh_terms: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D014148:Tranexamic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D014148:Tranexamic Acid