Tranexamic acid to reduce operative blood loss in brain tumor surgery: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Major blood loss during neurosurgery may result in a variety of complications, such as potentially fatal hemodynamic instability. Brain tumor and skull base surgery is among the high bleeding risk procedures. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been found to reduce bleeding events in various fields of medicine. METHODS: We searched for all randomized controlled trials published in English or Bahasa which compared the use of TXA with placebo in brain tumor surgery. The studies should include adult patients with intracranial tumor who received TXA before skin incision. The primary and secondary outcomes are intraoperative blood loss and the need of transfusion. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included a total of 200 patients from three studies. TXA resulted in less blood loss with pooled mean difference of −292.80 (95% CI, −431.63, −153.96, P<0.05). The need of transfusion was not significant between TXA and control group (pooled mean difference −85.36, 95% CI, −213.23 – (42.51), P=0.19). CONCLUSION: TXA reduced the volume of blood loss but did not reduce the need of blood transfusion.