Tranexamic Acid

Abstract

Tranexamic acid significantly reduces peri-operative blood loss in a wide variety of surgical specialties and improves survival in haemorrhage from trauma and birth. In cardiac patients it carries a risk of seizures, especially with higher doses, and theoretically may predispose to thromboembolic disease but clinically relatively few side effects are observed. It is highly cost-effective and requires minimal training to administer. As such the World Health Organisation now include it on the essential medicines list. Future research to clarify dosing regimens, especially in the cardiac and paediatric populations, as well as usage in other surgical disciplines and intracranial haemorrhage is expected.