Efficacy of Prophylactic Policy-Driven Tranexamic Acid Administration during Cesarean Delivery in a Rural Healthcare Setting.

Abstract

Objectives: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a major contributor to maternal mortality worldwide and is a leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the United States. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the World Health Organization advocate for the early use of tranexamic acid (TXA) in the prevention of PPH. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and patient characteristics of the use of prophylactic TXA administration during cesarean delivery (CD) as part of a newly instituted policy to reduce blood loss and PPH rates in a tertiary care regional rural and underserved maternal care center.

Methods: An electronic quality assurance chart review from February 2020 through October 2021 of more than 2705 patients was conducted, comparing two groups after implementation of a TXA protocol for all CDs. In total, four CD groups were analyzed (control group without TXA before policy, PPH group without TXA before policy, TXA control group after policy, and PPH group with TXA after policy).

Results: PPH rates decreased with TXA use (9.7% vs 1.5%). TXA use was more likely to be given to patients with one or more of the following characteristics: commercial insurance, self-identified Asian race, admission from a doctor's office, urgent CD delivery, fetal distress, abruptio placenta/placenta previa, and extended hospital length of stay with increased hospitalization cost. Subset analysis of 720 patients revealed decreased blood loss (896.4 ± 521.0 mL vs 771.1 ± 405.6 mL, P = 0.0004) and fewer blood transfusions with TXA use (6.7% vs 1.1%, P = 0.0001).

Conclusions: Prophylactic policy-driven TXA administration during CD protocol-driven TXA administration decreases PPH.