1.
Tranexamic acid reducing blood transfusion in children undergoing craniosynostosis surgery
Song G, Yang P, Zhu S, Luo E, Feng G, Hu J, Li J, Li Y
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 2013;24((1):):299-303.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surgical correction of craniosynostosis in children is associated with substantial intraoperative bleeding. Intraoperatively administered tranexamic acid (TXA) can lessen blood loss during orthopedic and cardiovascular surgery, but its efficacy in craniosynostosis surgery is uncertain. Therefore, a meta-analysis performed with published comparative studies was to determine whether TXA could reduce packed red blood cells (or erythrocytes) (PRBCs) transfused and blood loss during pediatric craniosynostosis surgery. METHODS Two PubMed and EMBASE electronic databases were searched until June 2012. Eligible studies were restricted in comparative controlled trials. RESULTS Four studies in 3 articles with 138 patients were included. The results showed that intraoperative administration of TXA can significantly reduce transfusion of PRBCs (weighed mean difference [WMD] = -10.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -16.84 to -4.78, P < 0.00001). In the level of blood loss, the meta-analysis on 4 studies showed that the difference was statistically significant (WMD = -20.53, 95% CI = -32.26 to -8.80, P = 0.0006) between the TXA groups and the control groups. However, the subgroup analysis on randomized controlled trials showed that TXA did not significantly reduce blood loss during surgery compared with the placebo group (WMD = -30.79, 95% CIs = -71.72 to 10.14, P = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS Tranexamic acid can significantly reduce the transfusion of PRBCs in children undergoing craniosynostosis surgery. However, there is a controversy on the efficacy of TXA in reducing blood loss. Therefore, new randomized controlled trials to assess the effects of TXA in children with craniosynostosis surgery should be conducted. Journal Article.
2.
The effect of tranexamic acid on blood loss in orthognathic surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Song G, Yang P, Hu J, Zhu S, Li Y, Wang Q
Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology. 2013;115((5):):595-600.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this article was to evaluate the efficacy of tranexamic acid on blood loss in orthognathic surgery. A meta-analysis was performed. STUDY DESIGN The PubMed and EMBASE electronic databases were searched until June 30, 2012. Eligible studies were restricted to randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RESULTS Four RCTs with 183 patients were included. The results showed that intraoperative blood loss in the tranexamic acid group was statistically reduced (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -93.56, 95% CI = -132.59-54.52, P < .00001). However, the postoperative levels of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) have no significant difference compared with placebo groups (WMD = 0.50, 95% CIs = -0.43-1.43, P = .29 and WMD = 0.18, 95% CIs = -1.64-1.99, P = .85, respectively). CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis confirms that tranexamic acid can effectively reduce intraoperative blood loss in orthognathic surgery, especially by intravenous administration. But, tranexamic acid cannot affect postoperative levels of Hb and Hct. Copyright 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.