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Multiple tranexamic acid doses further reduce blood loss after TKA
Researchers in this study found that twice the dosage of tranexamic acid administered intravenously during and after total knee arthroplasty reduced the amount of blood loss than one dosage.
“Administration of [tranexamic acid] TXA twice reduced postoperative blood loss after [total knee arthroplasty] TKA, and TXA was not associated with the risk of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism,” the researchers wrote in the abstract. “Further, administration of TXA twice may eliminate the need for blood transfusion during TKA.”
Seventy-eight patients with primary osteoarthritis undergoing TKA were divided into three groups. One group acted as a control, a second received 1,000 mg of TXA 10 minutes before tourniquet deflation, and a third group received that dosage and one additional dosage 3 hours after surgery, according to the abstract.
While there was no significant difference in venous thromboembolic events in the TXA groups, the researchers noted a lower mean volume of drained blood in the group with two doses of TXA than the control and patient group that received one TXA dose.