The effect of triple-dose-intravenous tranexamic acid on blood loss in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty without affecting blood coagulopathy: A prospective thromboelastographic analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of triple-dose intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) in patients following total hip arthroplasty (THA) using thromboelastography (TEG).

METHODS: One hundred thirty patients undergoing THA were prospectively enrolled in the study. According to the intravenous infusion TXA dose, patients were divided into single-dose (n=65; mean age=60.8 ± 8.1 years) and triple-dose groups (n=65; mean age=61.8 ± 8.6 years). Complete blood count (CBC), conventional coagulation tests (CCT), and TEG were conducted 1 day before the operation, on postoperative day 1 (POD1), and postoperative day 7 (POD7). Color Doppler ultrasonography was performed 1 day before the operation and on POD7. Drainage blood loss, total blood loss (TBL), hidden blood loss (HBL), deep vein thrombosis (DVT) incidence, and blood transfusion rates were calculated and recorded. The CCT, CBC, and TEG parameters were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS: Single- and triple-dose groups had significantly different hematocrit on POD7 (P < .05). No significant differences were found in CCT and hemoglobin at any corresponding time point between the 2 groups (P > .05). Despite the reaction time (R) on POD1 (P < .05), there were no significant differences in other TEG parameters at any other time point between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). For drainage blood loss and TBL, the triple-dose group had lesser blood loss than the single-dose group (P < .05). However, no significant differences were found for blood transfusion rate, HBL, or incidence of DVT (P > .05).

CONCLUSION: Compared with single-dose, triple-dose TXA can be more effective in decreasing blood loss without increasing DVT incidence in patients undergoing THA. Although there is a notable disparity in the R time on POD1, the administration of triple-dose TXA does not substantially impact the coagulation status as assessed by TEG and CCT.