Efficacy and safety of antifibrinolytic agents in spinal surgery: a network meta-analysis

• Published in: Chinese medical journal Vol. 132; no. 5; pp. 577 - 588
• Main Authors: Yuan, Lei, Zeng, Yan, Chen, Zhong-Qiang, Zhang, Xin-Ling, Mai, Shuo, Song, Pan, Tao, Li-Yuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies 05.03.2019; Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China%Department of Urodynamic Center and Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China%Research Center of Clinical Epidemiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; Wolters Kluwer
• Subjects: Acids; Back surgery; Bias; Binding sites; Blood transfusions; Clinical trials; Estimates; Hemoglobin; Intervention; Meta-analysis; Thoracic surgery; Thromboembolism; Antifibrinolytics; Network meta-analysis; Transfusion; Spine surgery; Blood loss
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641
• DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000000108

Significant blood loss is still one of the most frequent complications in spinal surgery, which often necessitates blood transfusion. Massive perioperative blood loss and blood transfusion can create additional risks. Aprotinin, tranexamic acid (TXA), and epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) are antifibrinolytics currently offered as prophylactic agents to reduce surgery-associated blood loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of aprotinin, EACA, and low/high doses of TXA in spinal surgery, and assess the use of which agent is the most optimal intervention using the network meta-analysis (NMA) method. Five electronic databases were searched, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, Embase, and Web of Science, from the inception to March 1, 2018. Trials that were randomized and compared results between TXA, EACA, and placebo were identified. The NMA was conducted with software R 3.3.2 and STATA 14.0. Thirty randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies were analyzed. Aprotinin (standardized mean difference [SMD]=-0.65, 95% credibility intervals [CrI;-1.25, -0.06]), low-dose TXA (SMD = -0.58, 95% CrI [-0.92, -0.25]), and high-dose TXA (SMD = -0.70, 95% CrI [-1.04, -0.36]) were more effective than the respective placebos in reducing intraoperative blood loss. Low-dose TXA (SMD = -1.90, 95% CrI [-3.32, -0.48]) and high-dose TXA (SMD = -2.31, 95% CrI [-3.75, -0.87]) had less postoperative blood loss. Low-dose TXA (SMD = -1.07, 95% CrI [-1.82, -0.31]) and high-dose TXA (SMD = -1.07, 95% CrI [-1.82, -0.31]) significantly reduced total blood loss. However, only high-dose TXA (SMD = -2.07, 95% CrI [-3.26, -0.87]) was more effective in reducing the amount of transfusion, and was significantly superior to low-dose TXA in this regard (SMD = -1.67, 95% CrI [-3.20, -0.13]). Furthermore, aprotinin (odds ratio [OR] = 0.16, 95% CrI [0.05, 0.54]), EACA (OR = 0.46, 95% CrI [0.22, 0.97]) and high dose of TXA (OR = 0.34, 95% CrI [0.19, 0.58]) had a significant reduction in transfusion rates. Antifibrinolytics did not show a significantly increased risk of postoperative thrombosis. Results of ranking probabilities indicated that high-dose TXA had the greatest efficacy and a relatively high safety level. The antifibrinolytic agents are able to reduce perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirement during spine surgery. And the high-dose TXA administration might be used as the optimal treatment to reduce blood loss and transfusion.This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0.