New Use for an Old Drug to Reduce Blood Loss in Joint Replacement Surgery
Blood loss and the need for a blood transfusion are concerns in joint replacement surgery, but a new use for an old drug is proving effective in reducing blood loss and transfusion rates, according to a study we conducted at Hospital for Special Surgery. The drug, tranexamic acid, or TXA, has been used for decades in heart surgery, to treat hemophilia and to stop excessive uterine bleeding. After reviewing thousands of patient records, we found that TXA was safe and effective, reducing the need for a blood transfusion by more than 50 percent. The research was just presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. TXA is classified as an “anti-fibrinolytic,” or blood clot stabilizer, whose mechanism of action reduces bleeding. TXA should not be used in patients who have a cardiac stent or in those who have had a previous blood clot. We reviewed the records of 4,449 patients who had hip or knee replacement over a six-month period. ...