The effect of intravenous tranexamic acid on blood loss and early post-operative pain in total shoulder arthroplasty.

AIMS: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of intravenous tranexamic acid on the reduction of blood loss, transfusion rate, and early post-operative clinical outcome in total shoulder arthroplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomised, placebo-controlled trial which included 54 patients undergoing unilateral primary stemless anatomical or stemmed reverse total shoulder arthroplasty was undertaken. Patients received either 100 ml saline (placebo, n = 27), or 100 ml saline together with 1000 mg of tranexamic acid (TXA, n = 27) intravenously prior to skin incision and during wound closure. Peri-operative blood loss via an intra-articular drain was recorded and total blood loss was calculated. The post-operative transfusion rate was documented. Assessment of early clinical parameters included the visual analogue scale for pain (VAS), documentation of haematoma formation and adverse events. RESULTS: Mean peri-operative blood drainage (placebo: 170 ml versus TXA: 50 ml, p = 0.001) and calculated mean total blood loss (placebo: 1248.2 ml versus TXA: 871.0 ml, p = 0.009) were significantly lower in the TXA group. No transfusions were necessary during the study period in either group. Mean VAS for pain significantly decreased from pre-operative (VAS 7) to the early post-operative period (VAS 1.7, p < 0.001). Significant differences regarding mean post-operative pain between placebo (VAS 2.0) and TXA (VAS 1.3) were detected (p = 0.05). The occurrence of haematomas was significantly more frequent in the placebo (59.3%, n = 16) than in the TXA group (25.9%, n = 6, p = 0.027). Whereas only mild haematomas developed in the TXA group, in the placebo group a total of 22.2% (n = 6) developed either moderate or severe haematomas. No adverse events associated with administration of TXA occurred. CONCLUSION: Intravenous administration of TXA successfully reduced mean peri-operative blood drainage, total estimated blood loss, pain during the first post-operative days, and haematoma formation in total shoulder arthroplasty. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1073-9.

A retrospective analysis of 509 consecutive interscalene catheter insertions for ambulatory surgery.

Effective pain therapy after shoulder surgery is the main prerequisite for safe management in an ambulatory setting. We evaluated adverse events and hospital re-admission using a database of 509 interscalene catheters inserted during ambulatory shoulder surgery. Adverse events were recorded for 34 (6.7%) patients (9 (1.8%) catheter dislocations diagnosed in the recovery room, 9 (1.8%) catheter dislocations at home with pain, 2 (0.4%) pain without catheter dislocation, 1 (0.2%) 'secondary' pneumothorax without intervention and 13 (2.6%) other). Twelve (2.4%) patients were re-admitted to hospital (8 (1.6%) for pain, 2 (0.4%) for dyspnoea and 2 (0.4%) for nausea and vomiting), 9 of whom had rotator cuff repair. A well-organised infrastructure, optimally trained medical professionals and appropriate patient selection are the main prerequisites for the safe, effective implementation of ambulatory interscalene catheters in routine clinical practice.

[Significance of the anamnesis in women suspected to have coronary heart disease]. / Stellenwert der Anamnese bei Frauen mit Verdacht auf koronare Herzerkrankung.

Pre-test probability for coronary artery disease can readily be determined using the patient's history, risk profile and resting ECG. The present study shows that this can be reliably done for both sexes. With pre-test probability of greater than 70% relevant coronary stenoses were found in both sexes in approximately 90%. With pre-test probability values of less than 60% this was only true in 20%. There seems to exist, however, a subgroup of female patients with rather atypical complaints but causing severe discomfort, showing normal coronary arteries it angiography. In these, subsequent myocardial metabolic studies and/or myocardial biopsy may reveal certain anomalies. Normal coronary arteries in women with chest pain therefore do not exclude any cardiac disorder. However the diagnoses to be expected from these sophisticated methods bear no consequences in terms of therapy. From a pragmatic point of view, therefore, it is suggested (for both sexes) to use pre-test probability in the selection for coronary angiography in order to detect organic coronary stenoses that can be managed by adequate treatment.