The Effect of Tranexamic Acid on the Blood Loss Volumes in the Patients Underwent Orthognathic Surgeries

Background and Aims: Tranexamic acid has been used to decrease blood loss volumes and the subsequent need for blood transfusion in the orthopedic, spinal and cardiac surgeries. Methods: In this prospective controlled randomized clinical trial study, 24 candidates for orthognathic surgeries received tranexamic acid (20 mg/kg) intravenously just before the surgery while matched control patients received normal saline. The patients underwent the surgeries according to the standard protocol. Patients’ blood hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were calculated before and after the surgeries and blood loss volumes were calculated using these criteria. Results: The blood loss was estimated as 693.65 ± 81.24 and 1024.00 ± 75.41 ml regarding blood hemoglobin values before and after the surgery in intervention and control groups, respectively; while it was estimated as 660.93 ± 62.78 and 1052.00 ± 48.54 ml concerning patients’ blood hematocrit levels before and after the surgery in those groups, respectively. Significant differences were noted between the intervention and control patients regarding blood loss volumes determined via the two methods (both: P < 0.001).  Conclusion: As suggested by the results, the intravenous injection of tranexamic acid (20 mg/kg) just before the orthognathic surgeries was associated with the significant decreased blood loss volumes compared to the control patients.