Perioperative combined administration of tranexamic acid and dexamethasone in total knee arthroplasty—benefit versus harm?

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits and harm of combined administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) and dexamethasone (Dexa) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: A total of 88 consecutive patients undergoing TKA for knee osteoarthritis were stratified in 2 groups. All surgeries were performed under general anesthesia. Brief, patients in the TXA + Dexa group (n = 45) received 10 mg Dexa just after the anesthesia, and repeated at 24 hours after the surgery; and patients in the TXA group (n = 43) received 2 ml of normal saline solution at the same time. The measured outcomes were the C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) from preoperatively to postoperatively, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), fatigue, range of motion (ROM), length of stay (LOS), and the analgesic and antiemetic rescue consumption Results: The level of CRP and IL-6 in the TXA + Dexa group were lower than that in the TXA group at 24 hours (P 
Source: Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Tags: Research Article: Clinical Trial/Experimental Study Source Type: research