Effectiveness and safety of tranexamic acid in total joint arthroplasty

Abstract

Total joint arthroplasty is associated with significant blood loss, that could result in the need of blood transfusions. Several techniques are being utilised to limit the volume of blood loss, in order to avoid transfusion. In this review, we look at blood loss in total joint arthroplasty and the perioperative strategies to limit the loss of blood. With the use of tranexamic acid gaining popularity, we analyse the published literature on its use in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. We have found that published studies favour using tranexamic acid in total joint arthroplasty as a safe and effective method of reducing blood loss.

Demography of Total Joint Replacement Surgeries Performed in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-sectional Survey

“…The published studies favor the use of tranexamic acid as a safe and effective method of reducing blood loss. 7 Our patients have no previous history of thromboembolic episodes and we used one gram of intravenous tranexamic acid thirty minutes before incision to reduce perioperative bleeding.…”

“…6 We used one gram of intravenous tranexamic acid thirty minutes prior to incision for both THR and TKR patients and used a tourniquet for TKR to reduce perioperative bleeding. 7 All of our patients of hip and knee replacement were done under epidural anaesthesia followed by subcutaneous injection of low molecular weight heparin 40mg for 5 days from the first postoperative day to prevent deep venous thrombosis. 8 Postoperative follow up of patients were done at1 month, 6 months and then yearly.…”