Tranexamic acid in trauma: After 3 hours from injury, when is it safe and effective to use again?

Abstract

AbstractTranexamic acid (TXA) has proven mortality benefit if used early after traumatic injury, likely related to a combination of bleeding reduction and other non‐bleeding effects. If TXA is given more than 3 h after traumatic injury, there is a significant and paradoxical increased risk of death due to bleeding. TXA has level 1 evidence for use as a bleeding reduction agent in isolated orthopedic operations, but in polytrauma patients undergoing orthopedic operations, it is not clear if and when TXA is safe or effective once outside the 3‐h window of proven trauma efficacy.