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The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology
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The use of tranexamic acid in elective lung surgery: a single-center experience

Egyptian Journal of Bronchology volume 13, pages 699–703 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Context

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a lethal sequela of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Surgical trauma injures the tissue directly, releasing a large number of tissue agent. The frequency of re-exploration owing to bleeding after lung surgery is between 1 and 3.7%, whereas the need of allogenic blood transfusion spans from 20 to 52%.

Aims

To assess the role of tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing the need of allogenic blood transfusion in patients undergoing elective lung surgery.

Patients and methods

This retrospective study was conducted on 140 patients who underwent elective lung surgery. Patients were allocated into two groups. Group I patients received TXA at the end of procedure, and group II patients received blood and/or blood product transfusion.

Statistical analysis

Qualitative variables are expressed as mean±SD. Quantitative variables are compared by using the Student’s t test.

Results

The patients comprised 80 males and 60 females in our series. All cases in group II needed transfusion of one or more of the following: concentrated red blood cells, whole blood, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets. There was an obvious decrease in the postoperative hemoglobin level between groups, in favor of blood transfusion group (group II), and this was statistically significant.

Conclusions

Elective thoracic surgery patients have a low incidence of VTE and PE (2.85 and 2.14%, respectively). Hence, TXA helps in minimizing not only transfusion-related hazards but also operative cost.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

    Ayman A. Sallam MD & Mohamed M. Abo El Nasr

  2. Department of Anesthesia and Post-Surgical Intensive Care, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

    Ahmed S. Elgebaly

  3. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Kafr Elsheikh University, Kafr Elsheikh, Egypt

    Wael M. El Feky

Authors
  1. Ayman A. Sallam MD
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  2. Mohamed M. Abo El Nasr
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  3. Ahmed S. Elgebaly
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  4. Wael M. El Feky
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ayman A. Sallam MD.

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Sallam, A.A., Abo El Nasr, M.M., Elgebaly, A.S. et al. The use of tranexamic acid in elective lung surgery: a single-center experience. Egypt J Bronchol 13, 699–703 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejb.ejb_29_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ejb.ejb_29_19

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