Affiliation:
1. School of Medicine University of Limerick Limerick Ireland
2. Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
3. Department of Surgery McMaster University Hamilton Ontario Canada
4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery University Musculoskeletal Oncology Unit, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
5. Department of Surgical Oncology University Health Network Toronto Ontario Canada
Abstract
AbstractIntroductionPerioperative bleeding increases morbidity and mortality in sarcoma patients. Tranexamic acid (TXA), an antifibrinolytic, is widely utilized in non‐sarcoma orthopaedic surgeries, but its adoption in sarcoma surgery is hindered by concerns about thrombotic events.MethodsSearches in Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were performed without date restrictions. Inclusion criteria encompassed sarcoma patients undergoing surgery with TXA intervention. Two authors independently screened studies, resolved conflicts, and assessed biases.ResultsEight studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 2142 patients. TXA administration varied in dose and timing across studies. Meta‐analysis revealed significantly reduced mean blood loss with TXA of −462.5 mL ([95% confidence interval [CI: −596.7, −328.31], p < 0.001) but no difference in transfusion rates (odds ratio [OR] = 0.51 [95% CI: 0.14–1.89]) or venous thromboembolism events (OR = 0.93 [95% CI: 0.40, 2.16]). Study biases were predominantly moderate to high due to retrospective designs and lack of control for confounders. Quality of reporting varied, with limitations identified in outcome reporting and effect size estimation.ConclusionsDespite evidence of reduced blood loss, the absence of prospective studies limits conclusive recommendations on TXA use in sarcoma surgery. Further research is warranted to determine optimal TXA regimens and assess safety concerns regarding thrombotic events in this patient population.