title: Tranexamic acid use in severely injured civilian patients and the effects on outcomes: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the relationship between tranexamic acid (TXA) use and patient outcomes in a severely injured civilian cohort, and to determine any differential effect between patients who presented with and without shock.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  TXA has demonstrated survival benefits in trauma patients in an international randomized control trial and the military setting. The uptake of TXA into civilian major hemorrhage protocols (MHPs) has been variable. The evidence gap in mature civilian trauma systems is limiting the widespread use of TXA and its potential benefits on survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study of severely injured adult patients (Injury severity score > 15) admitted to a civilian trauma system during the adoption phase of TXA into the hospital's MHP. Outcomes measured were mortality, multiple organ failure (MOF), venous thromboembolism, infection, stroke, ventilator-free days (VFD), and length of stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients receiving TXA (n = 160, 42%) were more severely injured, shocked, and coagulopathic on arrival. TXA was not independently associated with any change in outcome for either the overall or nonshocked cohorts. In multivariate analysis, TXA was independently associated with a reduction in MOF [odds ratio (OR) = 0.27, confidence interval (CI): 0.10-0.73, P = 0.01] and was protective for adjusted all-cause mortality (OR = 0.16 CI: 0.03-0.86, P = 0.03) in shocked patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TXA as part of a major hemorrhage protocol within a mature civilian trauma system provides outcome benefits specifically for severely injured shocked patients.
authors.affiliation: *Centre for Trauma Sciences, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom; and †Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davenport
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Willett
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brohi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D014148:Tranexamic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D014148:Tranexamic Acid