Low-cost drug may lessen blood loss in hip, knee surgery

While commonly used in patients with bleeding disorders or heavy menstrual bleeding, the clotting drug tranexamic acid is now increasingly used to prevent excessive blood loss during hip and knee replacement surgery, a million of which are now performed each year in the United States. While there are benefits to this drug, there are also safety concerns as it prevents enzymes in the body from breaking down blood clots that could potentially cause complications such as thrombosis.

"Our study, an analysis of past data, found that the use of tranexamic acid in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery was associated with an up to 70 percent decrease in the need for a blood transfusion, and without an increased risk of complications related to clotting." said Jashvant Poeran, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Institute of Healthcare Delivery Science, Department of Population Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and lead author of the newly published study. "An increasing number of patients will require these surgeries as America ages, and maintaining their safety is very important."

Using data from a national database, the researchers analyzed 872,416 total hip or knee replacement procedures at 510 US hospitals between 2006 and 2012. After adjusting for factors such as patient age, sex, hospital size and location, type of procedure and anesthesia used, patients given tranexamic acid (1000 mg, 2000 mg, or 3000 mg) on the day of surgery were compared with patients not given the drug.

The research team also found use of tranexamic acid to be associated with lower rates of admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), lower length of hospital stay, and lower costs of hospital stay. A dose of 2000 mg of tranexamic acid appeared to have the best effectiveness and safety profile.

"While there are some limitations to our study, the results appear to support the current practice of increasing use of this drug in hip and knee surgery," said Dr. Poeran. "Identifying patients most likely to benefit -- that is those at increased risk of bleeding and for requiring blood transfusions -- is crucial. Additional studies are needed to confirm this benefit, including those that focus on optimal dosing."