Topical vs. intravenous administration of tranexamic acid to minimize blood loss in abdominal hysterectomy perioperatively: A randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Topical application of tranexamic acid (TXA) to bleeding wound surfaces is rapidly gaining recognition and currently a topic of further research in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of topical vs. intravenous (i.v.) administration of TXA in reducing perioperative blood loss in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A double-blinded parallel-group randomized controlled study was conducted in a tertiary teaching institute. Group 1 (n = 25) received 10 mg.kg(-1) i.v. bolus of TXA after induction followed by infusion of 1 mg.kg(-1).h(-1) of TXA, in 50 ml of normal saline (NS), till the completion of surgery and just before closure of peritoneum 100 ml of NS was applied topically over the raw surface. Group 2 (n = 25) received 50 ml of NS over 10 min after induction, followed by infusion of 50 ml of NS, till the completion of surgery and just before closure of peritoneum, 1.5 g of TXA mixed in 100 ml of NS was applied topically over the raw surface. The primary outcome was total perioperative blood loss (intraoperative plus 24 h postoperative). The secondary outcomes included change in hemoglobin concentration postoperatively at 12 h, 24 h; need for blood/blood product transfusion; amount of blood/blood product transfused and side effects of TXA. RESULTS: Total perioperative blood loss was 312 ± 106.65 ml in group 1 and 325 ± 89.90 ml in group 2 (p = 0.659). It was found that the mean reduction in hemoglobin was 0.7 g.dl(-1) and 0.54 g.dl(-1) in group 1 and 0.67 g.dl(-1) and 0.44 g.dl(-1) in group 2 at 12 h and 24 h respectively, with no significant intergroup difference. CONCLUSION: Administration of TXA topically is as efficacious as TXA administered i.v. to minimize perioperative blood loss in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy.