Evaluating the Effectiveness of Tranexamic Acid vs. Placebo in Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Tranexamic acid (TXA), a potent antifibrinolytic agent, is widely used in cardiac surgical procedures worldwide to minimize surgical bleeding and reduce the need for perioperative blood transfusions. However, the use of TXA may increase the risk of coronary artery graft thrombosis, potentially leading to a higher occurrence of late thrombotic events. Some studies have suggested that drugs like TXA, aimed at decreasing bleeding during cardiac surgeries, may be associated with elevated risks of thrombotic complications or mortality. Conversely, the reduced need for blood transfusions could contribute to improved long-term outcomes. Thus, a systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken to assess the efficacy of TXA in cardiac surgery patients. Searches were conducted in databases including PubMed and PubMed Central. Data were extracted, and their quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized clinical trials (RCTs). A random effects model was used to compute the pooled prevalence and investigate heterogeneity using the I2 statistic. Subgroup analyses differentiated between experimental and placebo groups. Additionally, sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the findings, and publication bias was examined. An overall sample size of 12,869 patients was included in the meta-analysis, derived from seven of the 10 selected articles. This pooled sample was used to conduct an analysis of TXA's efficacy in cardiac surgery patients. Subgroup analysis revealed a 95% heterogeneity and indicated a p-value of less than 0.05, favoring TXA over placebo in terms of better outcomes. Our research indicates a statistically significant relationship between the efficacy of TXA and the number of patients undergoing heart surgery. According to our findings, there is a pressing need to enhance this evidence base and conduct larger RCTs to better understand the benefits of using TXA, aiming to maintain a low risk of bleeding after both major and minor heart surgeries.