An Overview of Tranexamic Acid (TXA) and its Application to Trauma Patients Topic Brief-An Overview of Tranexamic Acid (TXA) and its Application to Trauma Patients Topic Brief

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Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a drug used to prevent and reduce bleeding. It has been used for decades in various medical settings, including surgeries and dental procedures. However, it has not yet been approved by the FDA for use in trauma patients in the U.S. Any use of TXA for trauma patients is considered off-label.<br /><br />The CRASH-2 trial and the CRASH-3 trial have provided evidence of the effectiveness of TXA in trauma patients. The CRASH-3 trial demonstrated that TXA is safe to use if administered within three hours of injury and reduced mortality in patients with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, it had no effect on patients with severe TBI.<br /><br />TXA works by inhibiting the degradation of fibrin blood clots, which helps to prevent further bleeding. It is typically administered intravenously and has a half-life of about three hours.<br /><br />Guidelines recommend the use of TXA in trauma patients who are actively bleeding and within three hours of injury. The recommended dosing is 1 gram intravenously over 10 minutes, followed by 1 gram intravenously over 8 hours.<br /><br />While TXA has shown significant benefits in controlling bleeding and reducing mortality in trauma patients, further research is needed, especially in pediatric populations. The use of TXA in pediatric trauma patients is still being studied, and few hospitals have incorporated it into their protocols.<br /><br />Emergency nurses should be aware of the off-label use of TXA in trauma patients and be knowledgeable about its appropriate administration and potential adverse reactions.

Meta Tag

TXA trauma

TXA bleeding

TXA hemorrhage

TXA coagulation

TXA blood product

TXA IV

TXA massive transfusion

TXA TEG

TXA thrombin

Keywords

Tranexamic acid

TXA

bleeding prevention

off-label use

CRASH-2 trial

CRASH-3 trial

traumatic brain injury

fibrin blood clots

intravenous administration

pediatric trauma patients