title: Efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss in total knee replacements.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss in total knee replacement.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study was conducted at Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised data of patients who underwent total knee replacement between January 2012 and December 2014. The effect of tranexamic acid on postoperative haemoglobin, hematocrit and number of blood units transfused was noted and compared between cases who had received standard dose of tranexamic acid with those who had not received it. SPSS 19 was used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 416 knee replacement surgeries were conducted during the study period and involved 254 patients; 76(30%) men and 178(70%) women. The overall mean age was 62.2±9.6 years (range: 36-87 years). Tranexamic acid was used in 162(74%) patients and was not used in 92(36%). When it was used, only 26(16%) patients required blood transfusion, but when it was not used, 35(39.1%) required transfusion (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tranexamic acid was able to reduce total blood loss and transfusion requirements.
authors.affiliation: Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital, Islamabad.
authors.forename: Khalid Saleem
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Aslam
authors.affiliation: Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital, Islamabad.
authors.forename: Abidullah Khan
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Niazi
authors.affiliation: Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital, Islamabad.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nabi
keywords: Total Knee Replacement, Joint Replacement, Transexamic acid, Blood Loss.