Effect of tranexamic acid on surgical bleeding: systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis

To assess the effect of tranexamic acid on blood transfusion, thromboembolic events, and mortality in surgical patients.

Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane central register of controlled trials, Medline, and Embase, from inception to September 2011, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and the reference lists of relevant articles. STUDY SELECTION: Randomised controlled trials comparing tranexamic acid with no tranexamic acid or placebo in surgical patients. Outcome measures of interest were the number of patients receiving a blood transfusion; the number of patients with a thromboembolic event (myocardial infarction, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism); and the number of deaths. Trials were included irrespective of language or publication status.