Abstract

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of antifibrinolytic tranexamic acid (TXA) treatment in reducing preoperative and perioperative blood loss during total knee replacement (TKR).
Methodology: We reviewed the records of 57 patients who had undergone unilateral TKR between February and April, 2016. Mean age of patients was 62.4 (48-81) years and mean BMI was 33.1±4.7. Exclusion criteria included patients with renal impairment defined as serum creatinine higher than 1.4, history of venous thromboembolism or known coagulopathy, revision cases and patients whom their anesthesia was converted to general anesthesia. Surgeries were performed by a team of 3 surgeons following the same protocol in blood loss management. Patients were divided in 2 groups; TXA group (group A), 30 patients received it intravenously in 2 doses perioperatively, one given before incision and other on closure before tourniquet release and a non tranexamic acid group (group B), 27 patients were followed without receiving TXA. A standard venous thromboembolism prophylaxis was given for all patients. The primary outcome was the amount perioperative blood loss and level of hemoglobin 2 days postoperatively and venous thromboembolism were secondary outcomes.
Results: Transfusion rate was zero in Group A wen compared to the control group where 4 (8%) patients required transfusion (P

Key words: Tranexamic Acid, Blood Transfusion, Total Knee Replacement.