The Efficacy of Tranexamic Acid in Reducing Perioperative Drainage in Cardiac Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Introduction Although cardiopulmonary bypass procedures remain a critical treatment option for heart disease, they come with risks, including hemorrhage. Tranexamic acid is known to reduce morbidity and mortality in surgical hemorrhage. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tranexamic acid, which is routinely used to treat hemorrhage, in decreasing the amount of intraoperative and postoperative drainage. Method A total of 80 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were included in this retrospective study. Forty patients who received tranexamic acid during the operation were assigned to Group 1, while 40 patients who did not receive tranexamic acid were assigned to Group 2. Patient data were collected from the hospital computer system and/or archive records after applying exclusion criteria, and the data were recorded. Statistical analyses were then performed to compare the data. Results Age, sex, height, weight, body surface area, flow, and ejection fraction percentages, preoperative hematological parameters, and intraoperative variables (except tranexamic acid) were similar between the groups (P>0.05). However, there were statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of intraoperative (through the heart-lung machine) and postoperative red blood cell transfusion rates, intraoperative and postoperative bleeding drainage amounts, as well as postoperative hematocrit, hemoglobin, platelet, and red blood cell levels (P<0.05). Conclusion We concluded that intraoperative and postoperative use of tranexamic acid in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass has positive effects on hematological parameters, reducing blood product use, and bleeding drainage amount.