ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effectiveness and safty of tranexamic acid in patients receiving on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) without clopidogrel and aspirin cessation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The current study is a prospective, randomized and placebo-control trial. A total of 116 patients receiving selective on-pump CABG with their last ingestion of clopidogrle and aspirin within 7 days preoperatively were recruited. Despite 6 patients withdrawal their consent, the rest 110 were randomized to receive tranexamic acid or placebo. The tranexamic acid regimen was a bolus of 10 mg/kg followed by a maintenance of 10 mg·kg(-1)·h(-1) throughout the surgery. The primary outcome was the volume of allogeneic erythrocyte transfused perioperatively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. In patients receiving tranexamic acid and placebo respectively, the volume of allogeneic erythrocyte transfused was 4.0 (7.5) units and 6.0(6.0) units (W = 1021, P < 0.01). In these 2 groups respectively, blood loss was 930 (750) ml and 1210 (910) ml (W = 1042, P < 0.01), the incidence of major bleeding was 50.9% and 76.4% (χ(2) = 7.70, P < 0.01), the incidence of reoperation was 0 and 9.1% (χ(2) = 5.24, P = 0.02); the volume of plasma transfused was 400 (600) ml and 600 (650) ml (W = 1072, P = 0.01), the exposure of plasma was 60.0% and 85.5% (χ(2) = 8.98, P < 0.01) and the exposure to any allogeneic blood products was 85.5% and 98.2% (χ(2) = 5.93, P = 0.01). Perioperative mortality, morbidity and the incidence of adverse events were balanced between the groups without statistical significance.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tranexamic acid reduced significantly postoperative bleeding and transfusion in patients receiving on-pump CABG without clopidogrel and aspirin cessation.</p>