TITLE:
Tranexamic Acid versus Placebo for Prevention of Primary Postpartum Haemorrhage among High Risk Women Undergoing Caesarean Section in Abakaliki: A Randomized Controlled Trial
AUTHORS:
Nwafor Johnbosco Ifunanya, Ibo Chukwunenye Chukwu, Obi Chuka Nobert, Onwe Blessing, Ugoji Darlington-Peter Chibuzor, Onuchukwu Victor Uchenna
KEYWORDS:
Tranexamic Acid, Maternal, Mortality, Postpartum, Haemorrhage
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.9 No.6,
June
28,
2019
ABSTRACT: Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of tranexamic acid for
prevention of postpartum haemorrhage among women undergoing cesarean section
who were at high risk of postpartum hemorrhage. Materials and Method: This was a double blind randomized controlled trial conducted at the
Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki from January 2016 to December 2017. One
hundred and sixty-eight parturients at high risk of postpartum
haemorrhage who underwent caesarean section were randomly assigned to receive
either tranexamic acid or placebo prior to skin incision. Results: The result of the study showed that the need for additional uterotonic was higher
in women in the placebo arm when compared with women in the tranexamic arm of
the study (7.4% versus 33.3%, respectively). The incidence of primary post-partum hemorrhage (blood loss >
1000 ml) was significantly lower in the tranexamic acid group compared to placebo group (11.9% versus
50%, respectively, P-value Conclusion: Intravenous tranexamic acid given prior to skin incision at caesarean
section reduced the need for additional uterotonics and incidence of primary
postpartum among high risk women.