Tranexamic acid reduces blood transfusions in elderly patients undergoing combined aortic valve and coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of tranexamic acid on postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in elderly patients undergoing combined aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. SETTING: A university hospital (single institution). PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four patients 70 years or older undergoing combined aortic valve replacement and CABG surgery were included. One patient was withdrawn from the study after randomization by the attending surgeon because of a change in the surgical procedure. The remaining 63 patients were analyzed as intention to treat. INTERVENTIONS: The included patients were randomized to treatment with either tranexamic acid, 10 mg/kg, as a bolus injection before surgery followed by 1 mg/kg/h as an infusion during surgery, or a corresponding volume of 0.9% sodium chloride. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Postoperative blood loss was recorded for 16 hours. The transfusion of blood products was recorded during the entire hospital stay. The number of packed red cell transfusions given to the patients was significantly lower in the tranexamic acid group compared with the placebo group (median, 3.0 [interquartile range, 2-5] v 5.0 [3-7], p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: Tranexamic acid reduced the number of packed red cell transfusions given to patients 70 years or older undergoing combined aortic valve replacement and CABG surgery.