The Effect of Local Application of Tranexamic Acid Versus Placebo on Postoperative Complications in Plastic Surgery

The Effect of Topical Tranexamic Acid on Postoperative Complications in Soft Tissue Plastic Surgery - A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Study objective:

This is a study to investigate whether applying the drug tranexamic acid (TXA) onto a surgical wound surface may affect the incidence of surgical complications such as re-bleeding needing intervention, wound complications such as infection, wound rupture or seroma, or if it may increase the risk of blood clots.

Eligible patients:

Patients undergoing plastic surgical procedures with wounds that would normally receive application of TXA to reduce bleeding after surgery.

Study intervention:

Participants will receive a single local application of study drug onto their wound surfaces at the end of surgery. Study drug will be identical looking ampoules which contain either TXA or placebo (saline). Neither participants nor study personnel will know the contents of the ampoules.

Any serious postoperative complication needing intervention, specifically re-bleeding, wound infection, wound rupture, or the occurrence of blood clots for the first 30 days after surgery will be registered through the following interventions:

• Screening of patient medical records
• Distribution of an electronic self-report form (eForsk®) to participating patients at postoperative day 30
• Follow-up phone call to verify data after day 30.

The study is terminated after the final phone call. All study data will be registered in an electronic, pseudonymous web-based registration form (eCRF/Viedoc®).

Number of participants: To assess the effect of TXA on the defined surgical complications compared to placebo, 1500 patients are needed in each group.

Data monitoring committee:

A data monitoring committee consisting of a group of independent scientists will be appointed for this study to monitor the safety and scientific integrity of this human research intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients are eligible to be included in the study only if all of the following criteria apply:

  1. They are to undergo a surgical procedure within the field of plastic surgery where the procedure involves use of topical TXA at the participating center.
  2. They are over 18 years of age and capable of independently providing informed consent
  3. They have received adequate oral and written information about the study and signed the informed-consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with known allergy to tranexamic acid.