Safety of Tranexamic Acid in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in High-risk Patients

ConclusionsAlthough effective in reducing blood transfusions, tranexamic acid is not associated with increased complications, irrespective of patient high-risk status at baseline.Editor ’s PerspectiveWhat We Already Know about This TopicThe use of tranexamic acid to decrease blood loss during lower-extremity arthroplasty is commonplaceSafety concerns remain for patients with a history of thromboembolic, cardiovascular, renal, or neurologic comorbiditiesWhat This Article Tells Us That Is NewNational administrative data from more than 500 hospitals and 40,000 patients demonstrate that approximately half of high-risk patients receive tranexamic acid, similar to non –high-risk patientsTranexamic acid use in high-risk patients undergoing lower-extremity arthroplasty is associated with fewer transfusionsTranexamic acid use is not associated with venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, seizures, ischemic strokes, or transient ischemic attacks
Source: Anesthesiology - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research