Evidence Hub

Tranexamic Acid and Pulmonary Complications: A Secondary Analysis of an EAST Multicenter Trial

S. Raza, D. Tatum, K. Nordham, Jacob M. Broome, Jane Keating, Zoe Maher, Amy J. Goldberg, Grace Chang et al.

The American surgeon, 2024

2,382 participants · 2 citations

Abstract

Background Anti-inflammatory effects of tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing trauma endotheliopathy may protect from acute lung injury. Clinical data showing this benefit in trauma patients is lacking. We hypothesized that TXA administration mitigates pulmonary complications in penetrating trauma patients. Materials and Methods This is a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter, prospective, observational study of adults (18+ years) with penetrating torso and/or proximal extremity injury presenting at 25 urban trauma centers. Tranexamic acid administration in the prehospital setting or within three hours of admission was examined. Participants were propensity matched to compare similarly injured patients. The primary outcome was development of pulmonary complication (ARDS and/or pneumonia). Results A total of 2382 patients were included, and 206 (8.6%) received TXA. Of the 206, 93 (45%) received TXA prehospital and 113 (55%) received it within three hours of hospital admission. Age, sex, and incidence of massive transfusion did not differ. The TXA group was more severely injured, more frequently presented in shock (SBP < 90 mmHg), developed more pulmonary complications, and had lower survival (P < 0.01 for all). After propensity matching, 410 patients remained (205 in each cohort) with no difference in age, sex, or rate of shock. On logistic regression, increased emergency department heart rate was associated with pulmonary complications. Tranexamic acid was not associated with…

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: 2,382 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free