• Sandeep Chauhan, Akshay Bisoi, Rakesh Modi, Parag Gharde, and M R Rajesh.
• Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia, Cardiothoracic Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India. sdeep61@yahoo.com
• Indian J Med Res. 2003 Aug 1; 118: 86-9.

Background & ObjectivesAntifibrinolytic agents are used commonly in adult cardiac surgery to reduce postoperative blood loss. Paucity of literature on the use of a newer antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid (TA) in children undergoing cardiac surgery promoted us to conduct this study in children with cyanotic heart disease.MethodsOne hundred and twenty consecutive children with cyanotic heart disease were randomised into two groups. Control (group A) (n=24) given no drug while the study (group B, n=96) group was given tranexamic acid 10 mg/kg each after anaesthetic induction, on bypass and after protamine at the end of bypass. Postoperatively, total mediastinal chest tube drainage and blood and blood product usage at 24 h were recorded. Tests of coagulation including activated clotting time, fibrinogen, fibrin degradation products and platelet count were performed at 6 h postoperatively.ResultsThe two groups were comparable in terms of demographic characteristics such as age, sex, weight, operations performed, and preoperative haematocrit. Postoperatively, group B, had a significantly (P<0.05) lower blood loss, blood and blood product usage, re-exploration rate compared to the control group. There was preservation of fibrinogen and lower levels of fibrin degradation products in group B.Interpretation & ConclusionTranexamine acid was highly effective in reducing post-operative blood loss, blood and blood product usage in children with congenital cyanotic heart disease undergoing corrective surgery.

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