Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Background: Although high-bleed surgery routinely utilizes the antifibrinolytic drug tranexamic acid, most plastic surgical procedures are conducted in soft tissue with low-volume bleeding. Unease regarding possible systemic adverse effects prevents widespread systemic use, but local use of tranexamic acid is gaining popularity among plastic surgeons. Randomized controlled trials on topical use of tranexamic acid are mainly from high-bleed surgeries, and few studies address the effect in soft tissue. This article reviews the scientific evidence regarding local use of tranexamic acid in soft-tissue surgery, discusses pharmacological effects and possible adverse reactions, and presents recommendations for use in plastic surgery.
Methods: A systematic search of databases for studies on local use of tranexamic acid in soft-tissue surgery was performed. Randomized controlled trials were included for a systematic review on effect; a narrative review regarding other clinically relevant aspects is based on extensive literature searches combined with the authors' own research.
Results: Fourteen randomized controlled trials, including 1923 patients, were included in the systematic review on local use of tranexamic acid in soft-tissue surgery.
Conclusions:Local use of tranexamic acid may reduce blood loss comparably to intravenous prophylactic use with negligible risk of systemic adverse effects, but high-quality randomized controlled trials are few.