title: Influence of tranexamic acid on postoperative autologous blood retransfusion in primary total hip and knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperatively shed blood salvage is commonly used to reduce allogenic blood transfusion in patients undergoing total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA). Autologous blood retransfusion is not devoid of risk. We hypothesized that adding tranexamic acid (TXA) to a restrictive blood transfusion protocol would reduce the need for postoperative autologous blood retransfusion in primary knee and hip arthroplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight adult patients undergoing primary THA or TKA were randomly assigned to receive an intraoperative intravenous loading dose of 1.0 g of TXA followed by another 1.0-g dose 3 hours later (TXA group) or a matching volume 0.9% saline placebo (control group). A postoperatively shed autologous blood recovery system was used in all patients and the minimum reinfusion volume set at 250 mL. Red blood cells were transfused if hemoglobin level was less than 8 or if 8 to 10 g/dL with symptoms of anemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of patients receiving autologous blood reinfusion was significantly lower in the TXA group (5/49) compared to placebo (42/49) with an absolute difference of -75.5% (adjusted relative risk, 0.005), and none of the patients in the TXA group received more than 400 mL retransfused. Median total external blood loss during the first 24 hours was lower in the TXA group, 320 mL (range, 80-930 mL), compared to 970 mL (range, 100-2600 mL) in the placebo group (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in homologous blood transfusions and hematologic variables between groups. Treatment differences were consistent by size and significance when the analysis was repeated separately in patients undergoing TKA or THA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Addition of TXA to a restrictive transfusion protocol makes the use of a postoperative blood salvage system in patients undergoing primary hip and knee arthroplasty unnecessary.
authors.affiliation: Akromion Special Hospital for Orthopedic Surgery, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia.
authors.forename: Kresimir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oremus
authors.forename: Sinisa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sostaric
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Trkulja
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haspl
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057725:Operative Blood Salvage / Q000379:methods*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D014148:Tranexamic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D014148:Tranexamic Acid