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Early Prehospital Tranexamic Acid Following Injury is Associated with a 30-day Survival Benefit: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Shimena R. Li, F. Guyette, Joshua B. Brown, M. Zenati, K. Reitz, B. Eastridge, R. Nirula, G. Vercruysse et al.

Annals of Surgery, 2021

238 participants · 50 citations

Abstract

Objective: We sought to characterize the timing of administration of prehospital tranexamic acid (TXA) and associated outcome benefits. Background: TXA has been shown to be safe in the prehospital setting post-injury. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of a recent prehospital randomized TXA clinical trial in injured patients. Those who received prehospital TXA within 1 hour (EARLY) from time of injury were compared to those who received prehospital TXA beyond 1 hour (DELAYED). We included patients with a shock index of >0.9. Primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Kaplan-Meier and Cox Hazard regression were utilized to characterize mortality relationships. Results: EARLY and DELAYED patients had similar demographics, injury characteristics, and shock severity but DELAYED patients had greater prehospital resuscitation requirements and longer prehospital times. Stratified Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significant separation for EARLY patients (N = 238, log-rank chi-square test, 4.99; P = 0.03) with no separation for DELAYED patients (N = 238, log-rank chi-square test, 0.04; P = 0.83). Stratified Cox Hazard regression verified, after controlling for confounders, that EARLY TXA was associated with a 65% lower independent hazard for 30-day mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.19–0.65, P = 0.001] with no independent survival benefit found in DELAYED patients (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.63–1.60, P = 0.999). EARLY TXA patients had lower incidence of…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a secondary / pooled analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 238 participants or records.

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