The synthetic antif ibrinolytic drug tranexamic acid was evaluated in its hemostatic and blood saving effects, in patients submitted to myocardial revascularization with extracorporeal circulation. To 40 patients were administered placebo and to 55 tranexamic acid I.V. in a dosage of 10 g in the operative period (2 g in the anesthetic induction and the remaining 8 g in a continuous way during the operative procedure). Tranexamic acid, in this dosage, has proved to have a very impressive hemostatic effect, leadir g to a reduction in post operative bleeding of 47% in 12 h, 42,5% in 24 h and 40,5% when drains were taken off, related to the control group (p < 0.05). Tranexamic acid have led to less utilization for homologous paked red cells per patient, but statistical significance was found only in the 24 h of post operative period, with 1,025 units/patient in control group and 0,333 units/ patient in treated group. Concerning post operative complications, there have been more neurological alterations without sequelae (2.5% against 12.7%) and creatinin alterations (5% against 10.9%) in the tranexamic acid group. Such alterations were attributed to the high dosage used. As a conclusion, we do not recommend routine use of tranexamic acid to patients submitted to myocardial revascularization in the dosage of 10 g I.V., but, owing to the evident hemostatic effect of the drug, we recommend more investigations concerning the ideal dosage and way of administration.
tranexamic acid; surgical hemostasis; myocardial revascularization; extracorporeal circulation