Effects of aminocaproic acid on perioperative hidden blood loss in elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture treated with proximal femoral nail anti-rotation

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of aminocaproic acid on perioperative hidden blood loss (HBL) in elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture treated with proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA). METHODS: Seventy consecutively admitted elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture treated with PFNA between 1 May 2017 and 1 May 2018 were recruited. The patients were randomised into the experimental and control groups receiving 1 g aminocaproic acid in 200 mL saline and only 200 mL normal saline intravenously, respectively. The following factors were recorded: demographic characteristics, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels on preoperative day 1 and postoperative days 1 and 3, surgical blood loss, postoperative drainage, the rate and volume of transfusion, and complications. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen in surgical blood loss and postoperative drainage between the experimental and control groups, though total blood loss was greater in the control group. Visible blood loss and HBL were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group, and a lower rate and volume of transfusion were also recorded in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: Aminocaproic acid significantly reduced perioperative HBL and volume and rate of transfusion in elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture receiving PFNA.