Colorectal liver metastases: Tranexamic acid reduces blood transfusions after hepatectomy
Canada: Intraoperative administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) decreases red blood cell transfusions (RBCT) in hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), according to a recent study in the journal HPB. The study found that TXA led to a 41% reduction in the risk of 30-day receipt of RBCT.
Colorectal cancer is a major health problem and is the third most common cancer in the world. About 65% of all the CRC patients develop distant metastasis, the most common site being the liver (40%) -- colorectal liver metastases. Liver resection remains the most important modality in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases. But, RBCT remain a concern for patients undergoing hepatectomy.
Alisha A. Jaffer, Sunnybrook Research Institute Toronto, ON, Canada, and colleagues examined the effect of TXA, anti-fibrinolytic, on receipt of RBCT in CRLM metastases.
The researchers included hepatectomies for CRLM over 2009–2014. The primary outcome was 30-day receipt of RBCT. A total of 433 patients were included, of which,146 (34%) received TXA.
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Key findings of the study include:
- TXA patients were more likely to have inflow occlusion (41.8% vs. 23.1%) and major hepatectomies (56.1% vs. 45.6%).
- TXA was independently associated with lower risk of RBCT (Relative risk (RR) 0.59), but not with 30-day major morbidity (adjusted RR 1.02) and 90-day mortality (univariable RR 0.99).
"Intraoperative TXA was associated with a 41% reduction in risk of 30 -day receipt of RBCT after hepatectomy for CRLM. This finding is important to potentially improve healthcare resource allocation and patient outcomes. Pending further evidence, intraoperative TXA may be an effective method of reducing RBCT in hepatectomy for CRLM," concluded the authors.
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The study, "The impact of tranexamic acid on the administration of red blood cell transfusions for resection of colorectal liver metastases," is published in the journal HPB.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpb.2020.06.004
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