Intravenous Tranexamic acid versus placebo during Caesarian section: A comparative study

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of Tranexamic Acid in preventing postpartum hemorrhage against placebo in high-risk women undergoing cesarean section. METHODS: A double-blinded placebo-controlled comparative trial was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Nishtar Hospital for one year, from 15(th) June 2020 to 15(th) June 2021. A total of 60 women who were at high risk of postpartum hemorrhage and had to undergo elective cesarean sections were included in the study. Among them, initial 30 patients were administered Tranexamic Acid before skin incision whereas later 30 were treated as the placebo group. These women were then observed for blood loss during surgery and within 24 hrs. after surgery and any postoperative complications such as thromboembolic events, the need for additional uterotonic agents, and blood transfusions. RESULTS: Out of 60 women, 30 were placed in each group. The groups had no significant difference in terms of baseline data and post-partum hemorrhage-associated risk factors (p>0.05). However, the occurrence rate of primary post-partum hemorrhage (blood loss greater than 1000 ml) was significantly less in a tranexamic acid group than the placebo group (16.6% vs 60%, respectively, p<0.01). Similarly, the requirement of additional uterotonic agents (13.3% vs 43.3%, respectively) and the need for blood transfusion (6.0% vs 23.3%, respectively) was lower in a tranexamic group than in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: The study highlighted the significance of tranexamic acid in controlling post-partum hemorrhages, the requirement of additional uterotonic agents, improving post-partum hemoglobin, and the need for blood transfusion.