Efficacy of Tranexamic Acid in Conservation of Blood Loss in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients

A lot of post-operative blood loss is usually associated with total knee arthroplasty. However, intra operative blood loss is minimal. Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing the blood loss. We conducted a randomised double blinded placebo study involving 36 patients (18 subjects and 18 control). Patients were administered either tranexamic acid or normal saline 30 minutes prior to the surgery and then 8th hourly for 3 days. Blood loss and blood units given before after the procedure was noted. Coagulation profile was noted. D Dimer values were also noted to evaluate fibrinolysis. The blood loss in patients who were administered Tranexamic acid was 635 ml and the placebo had 1325 ml with 24 hours after the surgical procedure. 11 patients in the control received 1 -4 units of packed cells and 3 patients in the other group. The packed cell volume in the patients who received tranexamic acid was higher though they received lesser blood transfusion. Plasminogen was decreased in the same group. All the other parameters such as bleeding time, Fibrinogen degradation product, platelet count, Prothrombin time, apTT were the same in both the groups. However d dimer concentrations were increased in the control group. There was no thrombo embolic complications in the tranexamic acid group compared to 3 patients in the control group.