Publication:

Efficacy of prophylactic use of tranexamic acid in reduction of blood loss in benign hysterectomy: a randomised controlled trial

Background Aim of current study was to determine the efficacy of tranexamic acid in the reduction of blood loss during hysterectomy for benign indications.

Methods This is a randomized controlled trial in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Pondicherry. The study population was 108. Participants were allocated into 2 groups: Group A (N=54) and group B (N=54) based on computer generated random numbers. Group A (N=54) comprised of participants undergoing hysterectomy with prophylactic intravenous tranexamic acid (1 gram in 100 ml of 0.9% normal saline) which was further subdivided into A1 (N=27) and A2 (N=27) undergoing abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy respectively. Group B: comprised of participants undergoing hysterectomy without tranexamic acid, further subdivided into B1 (N=27) and B2 (N=27) undergoing abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy respectively. The mean blood loss during the intraoperative and post-operative periods was calculated and compared between the groups.

Results Participants in Group A who received prophylactic tranexamic acid were found to have less blood loss compared to the control population in Group B. The difference between the means was statistically significant.

Conclusions We concluded that tranexamic acid should be considered as prophylactic treatment for hysterectomy to reduce the risk of substantial blood loss and the need for blood transfusion and early recovery.