Abstract
Context
Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a lethal sequela of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Surgical trauma injures the tissue directly, releasing a large number of tissue agent. The frequency of re-exploration owing to bleeding after lung surgery is between 1 and 3.7%, whereas the need of allogenic blood transfusion spans from 20 to 52%.
Aims
To assess the role of tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing the need of allogenic blood transfusion in patients undergoing elective lung surgery.
Patients and methods
This retrospective study was conducted on 140 patients who underwent elective lung surgery. Patients were allocated into two groups. Group I patients received TXA at the end of procedure, and group II patients received blood and/or blood product transfusion.
Statistical analysis
Qualitative variables are expressed as mean±SD. Quantitative variables are compared by using the Student’s t test.
Results
The patients comprised 80 males and 60 females in our series. All cases in group II needed transfusion of one or more of the following: concentrated red blood cells, whole blood, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets. There was an obvious decrease in the postoperative hemoglobin level between groups, in favor of blood transfusion group (group II), and this was statistically significant.
Conclusions
Elective thoracic surgery patients have a low incidence of VTE and PE (2.85 and 2.14%, respectively). Hence, TXA helps in minimizing not only transfusion-related hazards but also operative cost.
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Sallam, A.A., Abo El Nasr, M.M., Elgebaly, A.S. et al. The use of tranexamic acid in elective lung surgery: a single-center experience. Egypt J Bronchol 13, 699–703 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejb.ejb_29_19
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ejb.ejb_29_19