The Effect of Tranexamic Acid. A Randomised Study of Patients Undergoing Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery.

The Effect of Tranexamic Acid on Duration of Surgery, Bleeding and Complications. A Double Blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomised Study of Patients Undergoing Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery.

In this randomized double blind placebo controlled study of tranexamic acid during minor spinal surgery, mean postoperative blood loss in the patients who received TXA was statistically significantly lower compared to placebo.

Study Design: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.

Objective: To investigate the effect of tranexamic acid (TXA) compared to placebo in low-risk adult patients undergoing elective minor lumbar spine surgery on operative time, estimated blood loss and complications.

Summary of Background Data: Studies have shown that TXA reduces blood loss during major spine surgery. There are no studies on the effect of TXA in minor lumbar spine surgery on operative time, intraoperative and postoperative blood loss and complications.

Methods: We enrolled patients with ASA grades 1 to 2, scheduled to undergo lumbar decompressive surgery at Middelfart Hospital. Patients with thromboembolic disease, coagulopathy, hypersensitivity to TXA or history of convulsion were excluded. Patients were randomized, in blocks of 10, to two groups: TXA or placebo. Anticoagulation therapy was discontinued 2-7 days preoperatively. Prior to the incision, patients received either a bolus of TXA (10mg/kg), or an equivalent volume of saline solution (placebo).

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients referred to the Centre for Spine Surgery and Research in the Region of Southern Denmark with symptomatic, MRI-verified lumbar spinal stenosis or disc herniations
• low risk (American Society of Anesthesiologists, ASA, score 1-2) adult patients scheduled for elective primary decompression or/and discectomy over one to two vertebral levels (without fusion or instrumentation), willing to give informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Not able to understand verbal and/or written Danish ASA score more than 2 Malignant disease Pregnancy Breast feeding

Contraindications to TXA:

Active thromboembolic disease Coagulopathy History of venous or arterial thrombosis Hypersensitivity to the active substance Disseminated intravascular coagulation Severe renal impairment History of convulsions ASA - American Society of Anesthesiologists score, TXA - Tranexamic acid.