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Tranexamic acid in trauma: After 3 hours from injury, when is it safe and effective to use again?
Christopher D Barrett1,2, Matthew D Neal3, Jonathan G Schoenecker4
1Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Abstract:
Tranexamic acid (TXA) has proven mortality benefit if used early after traumatic injury, likely related to a combination of bleeding reduction and other non-bleeding effects. If TXA is given more than 3 h after traumatic injury, there is a significant and paradoxical increased risk of death due to bleeding. TXA has level 1 evidence for use as a bleeding reduction agent in isolated orthopedic operations, but in polytrauma patients undergoing orthopedic operations, it is not clear if and when TXA is safe or effective once outside the 3-h window of proven trauma efficacy.
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