Tranexamic acid and placebo will be given during surgery to patients who have elected to undergo lumber interbody fusion on 2 or more levels. Information regarding blood loss, transfusions needed, postoperative cognitive status (including delirium), postoperative markers of systemic inflammation and duration of hospital stay will be collected.
This study is to assess whether tranexamic acid (a drug that is used to coagulate the blood and reduce bleeding) use in lumbar spinal fusion can reduce blood loss and postoperative delirium compared to placebo. Thusly reducing need for transfusion, shorting the hospital stay and improving outcomes. For this the study will randomize patients who are receiving elective lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF or TLIF) of 2 or more levels for degenerative disc disease (DDD) into 2 groups. Group 1 would receive tranexamic acid during the surgery while group 2 will receive placebo. Blood loss during the surgery and postoperatively (while the patient has a drain) will be monitored along with the amount of transfusions needed, postoperative cognitive status (including delirium), postoperative markers of systemic inflammation, and and the duration of hospital stay. Delirium occurrence and severity will be assessed daily for the first 5 days after surgery or at discharge, whichever comes first. Cognitive status (neuropsychological tests) will be assessed at post-discharge follow up visits and compared to preoperative status. The drug or placebo are only given during the surgery. The patient population includes elective cases of patient undergoing lumbar spinal fusion of 2 or more levels. Spinal fusions are known to be associated with blood loss, especially when the surgeries are long and more levels need to be fused.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
123
Antifibrinolytic Agent
Placebo
Supplemented into standard of care daily neurological exam on day of surgery and day after
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Transfusion
The number of participants who had red blood cells (RBC) transfused: 1. Intraoperatively 2. Postoperatively (prior to discharge or at day 5, whichever occurred first) 3. Either Intraoperatively or Postoperatively
Time frame: Assessed up to 5 days or until discharge, whichever came first, data collected on discharge day or day 5 reported
Blood Loss
Amount of blood loss: 1. Intraoperatively 2. Postoperatively (prior to discharge or at day 5, whichever occurred first) 3. Either Intraoperatively or Postoperatively
Time frame: Assessed up to 5 days or until discharge, whichever came first, data collected on discharge day or day 5 reported
Delirium Occurrence
Delirium occurrence (yes/no) using daily 3D-CAM delirium assessment instrument.
Time frame: Assessed up to 5 days or until discharge, whichever came first, data collected on discharge day or day 5 reported
Delirium Severity
Severity (score 0-20) using daily 3D-CAM delirium assessment instrument. Minimum=0 (no delirium) Maximum=20 (worse delirium)
Time frame: Assessed up to 5 days or until discharge, whichever came first, data collected on discharge day or day 5 reported
Change in Interleukin-6 Concentration.
Measure of systemic inflammation using Interleukin-6 change between preoperative and 24 postoperatively blood draw.
Time frame: Preoperatively and 24 hours postoperatively
Length of Postoperative Stay Prior to Discharge
Length of postoperative stay prior to discharge in days
Time frame: Days thru day of discharge
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3D-CAM is a brief verbal assessment tool that can be used to test patients and study patients for delirium.