title: Local administration of tranexamic acid in off-pump coronary artery bypass.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We administered tranexamic acid locally to patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass, to investigate the hemostatic effects and safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 100 consecutive patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass between July 2009 and January 2011. We assigned 50 patients in the early phase, in which tranexamic acid was not employed, to group N, and 50 in the late phase, in which tranexamic acid was employed, to group T. In group T, 10 mL of a solution containing 1 g of tranexamic acid in was sprayed into the pericardial cavity and mediastinum before the sternum was closed. We compared the volume of postoperative blood loss, blood transfusion volume, and complications between the 2 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The volume of blood loss in 24 h after intensive care unit admission was 492 mL in group N and 303 mL in group T (p<0.0001); the decrease in blood loss in the group receiving tranexamic acid was approximately 40%. There was no significant difference in the blood transfusion volumes. There were no side effects of tranexamic acid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass, local administration of tranexamic acid may decrease the volume of postoperative blood loss. The local administration method is simple, inexpensive, and safe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toyohashi Heart Center, Toyohashi, Japan. aoki@heart-center.or.jp
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Yasuhide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okawa
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047549:Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump; D005260:Female; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014148:Tranexamic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D014148:Tranexamic Acid