Objective:

Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been used to reduce perioperative bleeding in various surgeries because of its antifibrinolytic effect. Recently, patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery in our institution received a loading dose of TXA (1000 mg) before surgery, followed by 100 mg h−1 until the end of surgery. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of TXA administration on the perioperative blood loss in patients undergoing knee arthroplasty or hip arthroplasty.

Methods:

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted for the records in patients who underwent surgery without TXA administration (control group) and patients who underwent surgery with TXA administration (TXA group). Amount of intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative infusion volume, intraoperative blood transfusion volume, postoperative blood transfusion volume, changes in haemoglobin concentrations (ΔHb) and estimated blood loss were collected. Data were adjusted by propensity score method.

Results:

A total of 126 (63 in the control group and 63 in the TXA group) patients were included during the study period. Intraoperative infusion, postoperative transfusion, ΔHb and estimated blood loss were significantly reduced in the TXA group, although there were no significant differences in the volumes of intraoperative transfusion and blood loss.

Conclusion:

The administration of TXA (loading dose of 1000 mg and continuous infusion of 100 mg h−1) reduced postoperative transfusion and perioperative blood loss. These results indicated that TXA administration is useful for reducing perioperative blood loss in patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty.

Keywords: Arthroplasty, tranexamic acid, transfusion