title: Tranexamic acid reduces blood loss and need of blood transfusion in total knee arthroplasty: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study in Indian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For quite a few years, tranexamic acid (TEA) has been used during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to reduce blood loss. However, no consensus exits regarding its timing and doses.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective, randomized double-blinded study of 56 patients in the Indian population undergoing TKA from 2011 to 2012. A dose of 10 mg/kg body weight of TEA (three doses) was given in one group and normal saline was administered in the other.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean blood loss in the TEA unilateral group was 295 mL ± 218 mL and in the placebo group was 482 mL ± 186 mL (P < 0.005). In the bilateral TEA group, the mean blood loss was 596 mL ± 235 mL and in the placebo group was 1349 mL ± 41 mL (P < 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of patients requiring blood transfusion reduced substantially. There was no increase in the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. TEA reduces intraoperative and postoperative blood loss and thus reduces the need of allogenic blood transfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shinde
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Anshul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sobti
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Shriji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maniar
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Raju
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gite
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shetty
keywords: Blood transfusion; total knee arthroplasty; tranexamic acid