Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 23, 2026

Author Spotlight: Developing a Safer and More Efficient Treatment Protocol for Wasting Marmoset Syndrome (WMS)
03:07

Author Spotlight: Developing a Safer and More Efficient Treatment Protocol for Wasting Marmoset Syndrome (WMS)

Published on: July 12, 2024

1.8K

Tranexamic Acid Use in United States Children's Hospitals

Daniel K Nishijima1, Michael C Monuteaux2, David Faraoni3

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California.

The Journal of Emergency Medicine
|March 28, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is used for various pediatric conditions, but its use in pediatric trauma patients is rare. Further research is needed to establish appropriate TXA indications and dosage guidelines for children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric pharmacology
  • Trauma care
  • Hospital administration

Background:

  • Tranexamic acid (TXA) is increasingly used in adults for bleeding control.
  • The prevalence and patterns of TXA use in pediatric populations are not well-established.
  • Understanding TXA utilization in children's hospitals is crucial for optimizing patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of tranexamic acid (TXA) administration in US children's hospitals.
  • To specifically analyze TXA use in pediatric trauma cases compared to other conditions.
  • To describe TXA dosage patterns in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Secondary analysis of a large administrative database from 36 US children's hospitals (2009-2013).
  • Inclusion of pediatric patients (<18 years) with pharmacy charge codes for TXA.
  • Categorization of patients by diagnostic and procedural codes (trauma, congenital heart surgery, etc.).

Main Results:

  • 35,478 pediatric encounters with TXA charges were identified.
  • TXA use remained consistent from 2009-2013.
  • Only 0.31% of TXA encounters were for trauma; congenital heart surgery represented the largest proportion (64%).
  • Median weight-based TXA dose was 22.4 mg/kg (IQR 7.3-84.9 mg/kg).

Conclusions:

  • Significant variation exists in TXA use and dosing across pediatric conditions.
  • TXA use in pediatric trauma is notably infrequent compared to adults.
  • Further research is essential to define optimal TXA indications and dosing for pediatric patients, including trauma.
Abstract

Keywords:
childtranexamic acidwounds and injuries

More Related Videos

Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke09:21

Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Published on: January 18, 2018

12.7K
Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload05:23

Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload

Published on: March 14, 2017

20.7K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
369
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
720
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
443
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
678
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care01:29

Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care

Venous thrombosis requires effective prevention and treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce potential complications.Prevention StrategiesHealthcare providers must prioritize preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) for all adult patients upon admission. Interventions depend on bleeding and thrombosis risk, medical history, current medications, diagnoses, planned procedures, and patient preferences. Patients on bed rest should change positions every two hours and, if not...
459
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
322