• van WessemKarlijn J PKJPhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-1166-0990Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands. kwessem@umcutrecht.nl., Denise Jochems, and LeenenLuke P HLPHhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-8385-1801Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands..
• Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands. kwessem@umcutrecht.nl.
• Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2022 Jun 1; 48 (3): 1589-1599.

IntroductionTranexamic acid (TXA) has shown to be beneficial in selected patients with hemorrhagic shock. Recently, TXA has gained interest in isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with variable results. There are limited data on TXA in polytrauma with associated TBI. This study investigated the role of TXA in severely injured patients with associated severe TBI.MethodsA 7.5-year prospective cohort study was performed to investigate the relation between prehospital TXA and mortality in consecutive trauma patients with associated severe TBI (Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS)head ≥ 3) admitted to a Level-1 Trauma Center ICU. Indication for prehospital TXA administration was (suspicion of) hemorrhagic shock, and/or systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≤ 90 mmHg. Demographics, data on physiology, resuscitation, and outcomes were prospectively collected.ResultsTwo hundred thirty-four patients (67% males) with median age of 49 years and ISS 33 (98% blunt injuries) were included. Thirteen patients (6%) developed thromboembolic complications; mortality rate was 24%. Fifty-one percent of patients received prehospital TXA. TXA patients were younger, had more deranged physiology on arrival, and received more crystalloids and blood products ≤ 24 h. There was, however, no difference in overall outcome between TXA patients and no-TXA patients.ConclusionsDespite having a more deranged physiology TXA patients had similar outcome compared to no-TXA patients who were much older. Thromboembolic complication rate was low. Prehospital tranexamic acid has no evident effect on outcome in polytrauma patients with associated critical brain injury.© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.

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