Tranexamic Acid, Hemorrhage and Transfusions After Combined Aortic Valve Replacement and Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Hemorrhage Clinical Trial

Official title: Phase 4 Study of Tranexamic Acid for Elderly Patients Undergoing Combined Aortic Valve Replacement and Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

In this study we will investigate whether tranexamic acid given as an intravenous bolus injection before start of surgery, followed by a continuous infusion during surgery reduces, perioperative hemostatic activation, and postoperative bleeding and the need for transfusions of blood components in elderly patients undergoing combined aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass surgery. Tranexamic acid will be compared with placebo (0.9% sodium chloride) in a randomized and double-blind study design.

The study hypothesis is that tranexamic acid will reduce hemostatic activation and postoperative hemorrhage and the need for blood component transfusions in this group of patients.

Clinical Trial Description

It has previously been shown that elderly patients show signs of increased perioperative hemostatic activation after coronary artery bypass grafting. In particular, compared to younger patients, elderly patients had more extensive fibrinolysis postoperatively. The antifibrinolytic drug tranexamic acid has been shown to reduce fibrinolysis, bleeding, and the need for transfusions of blood components after various cardiac surgical procedures. In this study we will investigate whether tranexamic acid reduces perioperative activation of coagulation as measured by plasma concentrations of antithrombin, thrombin-antithrombin complex, and prothrombin fragment 1+2, whether tranexamic acid reduces perioperative fibrinolysis as measured by plasma concentrations of D-dimer, and whether tranexamic acid reduces platelet activation as measured by plasma concentrations of neutrophil activating peptide 2 and by flow cytometry in elderly (above 70 years of age) patients undergoing combined aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass surgery. The primary endpoint of the study will, however, be total postoperative bleeding and the need for transfusions of blood components during and after surgery. The need for transfusions will be registered during the whole hospital stay. Patients will be randomized into two groups and given either tranexamic acid or placebo (0.9% sodium chloride) as an intravenous bolus injection before start of surgery followed by an intravenous infusion during surgery. Blood samples for the above mentioned plasma concentration measurements will be drawn preoperatively, intraoperatively during CPB, and 30 minutes and 3, 5, and 20 hours postoperatively. Postoperative bleeding will be registered for 16 hours. The need for any transfusions of blood products will be registered for the whole hospital stay. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Hemorrhage

• NCT number: NCT00375466
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: St. Olavs Hospital
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 2006
• Completion date: December 2008