Does tranexamic acid really matter in reducing blood loss? A critical evaluation of its efficacy in orthognathic surgery through a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is acknowledged for reducing blood loss and transfusion requirements in various surgical specialties, yet its role in orthognathic procedures is less defined. Our study seeks to fill this knowledge gap by reviewing the available data and summarising the efficacy and clinical outcomes of TXA in orthognathic surgery. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, searching five databases for studies until 16 April, 2023. Our key outcome measures were intraoperative blood loss, postoperative bleeding, and transfusion rate. Previous weaknesses in systematic review and meta-analyses (SRMA) were identified using Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR-2). The risk of bias was evaluated with the RoB-2 tool. A total of 15 studies were included, involving a combined total of 1060 patients. Compared with the control, the TXA group demonstrated significant reductions in intraoperative blood loss (mean difference −135.60 mL; p < 0.00001; 95% CI, −177.51 to −93.70 mL), Hb level drop (mean difference: 2.67 [−0.63, 5.98]), and improved surgical field visibility [p < 0.00001. (MD −0.99) (CI −1.11 to −0.86)]. No significant differences were observed in postoperative haematocrit levels (mean difference: −0.42 [−2.19, 1.35]; p = 0.003; I² = 75%), operation duration (p = 0.21), or duration of hospital stay (p = 0.63) between TXA and control groups. In orthognathic surgery, TXA effectively minimises blood loss, demonstrating both safety and efficiency. Well-designed, larger studies and comparisons with other haemostatic agents could solidify TXA evidence.