A Randomized Control Trial to Verify the Efficacy of Pre-Operative Intra Venous Tranexamic Acid in the Control of Tonsillectomy Bleeding

Abstract

Tonsillectomy is an age old surgery which is still very commonly done. Bleeding related to surgery is the major problem. This study is done to verify by randomized control trial the efficacy of preoperative intravenous tranexamic acid in the control of tonsillectomy bleeding. Hundred cases undergoing tonsillectomy were randomized into two groups, one of which received preoperatively intra venous tranexamic acid, 10 mg kg-1. The other group patients were given a placebo. Amount of bleeding was assessed in each case. The study group had statistically highly significant reduction in bleeding. There were no side effects of the drug. This finding is similar to that in other studies for tonsillectomy, other surgeries and other hemorrhagic conditions. Tranexamic acid in the dose of 10 mg kg-1 given intra venous pre-operatively is effective in the control of tonsillectomy bleeding. © 2011 Association of Otolaryngologists of India.