Perioperative blood loss in total hip and knee arthroplasty: Outcomes associated with intravenous tranexamic acid use in an academic medical center

OBJECTIVES: Clinical trials have reported decreased blood loss with the use of tranexamic acid during joint reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to assess the individual practice implications of tranexamic acid use in joint replacement surgery. METHODS: Health records of adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty over a 12-month period were retrospectively reviewed. The treatment group comprised patients who received intravenous tranexamic acid perioperatively. The control group comprised patients who did not receive tranexamic acid. RESULTS: Patients in the treatment group (n = 64) and the control group (n = 99) were well matched for demographics, orthopedic diagnosis, and comorbidities. In-hospital postsurgical mean decreases in hemoglobin concentrations were −4.05 g/dL and −4.94 g/dL in the treatment and control groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Postsurgical mean decreases in hematocrit levels were −11.2% and −14.2% in the treatment and control groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Three patients in the treatment group (5%) and 21 patients in the control group (21%) received red blood cell transfusions (p = 0.006). As compared to control, the relative risk of transfusion in the treatment group was 0.23 (95% confidence interval = 0.07–0.76) and the number needed to treat to avoid one transfusion was 7.0 (95% confidence interval = 3.8–14.4). No evidence of thromboembolism or other serious complications were observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing joint replacement surgery, perioperative administration of tranexamic acid was associated with diminished blood loss and lesser resource utilization.