TXA: Inexpensive Drug Saves Blood And Money
Monday, September 7, 2015 - 10:40
in Health & Medicine
Using an inexpensive drug for every hip or knee replacement since 2013 has helped St. Michael's Hospital reduce its number of red blood cell transfusions performed during these surgeries by more than 40 per cent without negatively affecting patients, according to new research. The drug tranexamic acid, known as TXA, prevents excessive blood loss during surgeries. TXA had been shown to be effective in orthopedic, trauma and cardiac patients but less than half of eligible patients at St. Michael's received this drug because of a previous province-wide shortage. The drug was given only to patients at high risk of requiring a blood transfusion. read more