• Ki-Tack Kim, Cheung-Kue Kim, Yong-Chan Kim, Hyung-Suk Juh, Hyo-Jong Kim, Hyeon-Soo Kim, Se Jung Hong, and Hey Hwee Weng Dennis HWD University Orthopaedics, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Cluster (UOHC), National University Health System (NUHS), Singapore, Singapore..
• Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, South Korea.
• Eur Spine J. 2017 Nov 1; 26 (11): 2851-2857.

PurposeTranexamic acid is a proven drug used for reduction of intraoperative blood loss in spinal surgery. However, optimal dosing considering risk/benefits is not well established owing to the heterogeneity in patient selection and surgical procedures of previous studies. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of various tranexamic acid regimens in reducing perioperative blood loss in single-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF).MethodsPatients were randomly grouped into three different interventions: low-dose tranexamic acid (LD), high-dose tranexamic acid (HD), and placebo-controlled (PC) groups. The HD and LD groups received 10 and 5 mg/kg of bolus loading dose and 2 and 1 mg/kg of continuous infusion until 5 h after surgery, respectively. Data on patient demographics and preoperative and 24-h postoperative laboratory values were collected. Outcome parameters include intraoperative blood loss, 24-h postoperative blood loss, and blood loss during removal of the last drain.ResultsSeventy-two patients (mean age 63.3 ± 7.6 years) showed similar baseline characteristics. Intraoperatively, blood loss was reduced by the administration of tranexamic acid (P = 0.04), contributed predominantly by a difference between the LD and HD groups (123 mL; P < 0.01). The 24-h postoperative blood loss was reduced (P < 0.01), contributed predominantly by a difference between the PC and LD groups (144 mL; P = 0.02). During the removal of the last drain, statistical difference was found between the PC and HD groups (125 mL; P = 0.00). No complications or side effects from tranexamic acid use were noted.ConclusionTranexamic acid administration for single-level PLIF was effective and safe in reducing perioperative blood loss in a dose-dependent manner. An HD regimen comprising 10 mg/kg of bolus loading dose and 2 mg/kg/h of continuous infusion is recommended.Level Of EvidenceLevel 1 study according to Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 Levels of Evidence.

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