Dr. Ken Milne, an EBM guru, joins the hosts to examine the evidence for TXA in various indications including epistaxis, postpartum hemorrhage, hyphema, and hemoptysis. They discuss the limitations of the Cochrane review, the uncertain effectiveness of TXA in gastrointestinal bleeds, and the No-Pack trial results for epistaxis. The importance of replication in scientific studies and the pitfalls of subgroup analysis are also explored.
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Quick takeaways
The evidence supports the use of TXA in trauma to potentially save lives.
Replicating studies helps reduce the chances of false positives and provides a more reliable understanding of the truth.
Deep dives
TXA and trauma
The evidence for TXA in trauma is primarily based on the landmark Crash-2 trial, which showed a 1.5% absolute reduction in all-cause mortality. While the trial has some limitations, it has led to widespread acceptance and use of TXA in trauma resuscitation. There is also the Stamp trial, which did not show a significant mortality benefit but had a similar absolute difference as Crash-2. Overall, TXA is commonly used in trauma settings, especially in patients with significant hemorrhage or hemodynamic instability. The evidence may not be perfect, but it supports the use of TXA in trauma to potentially save lives.
Replication is important in science
Replication of findings is a foundation of good science due to the risk of flukes and biases. Replicating studies helps reduce the chances of false positives and provides a more reliable understanding of the truth. Therefore, it is crucial to verify positive studies, even if they are high-quality trials. This process of replication ensures that results are not based on chance or bias and leads to more robust scientific conclusions.
Interpreting the evidence on TXA
The evidence on tranexamic acid (TXA) suggests that it is not a miracle cure and its benefits may not be as strong as initially thought. The Crash 2 trial, which showed a mortality benefit, stands out as the only high-quality positive trial, while other studies have not seen the same clinical outcomes or bleeding reductions. Subgroup analyses and secondary outcomes should be interpreted cautiously, as they can be misleading and have a low replication rate. Consideration of pretest probabilities, replication, and overall trial results is crucial in determining the appropriate use of TXA for bleeding scenarios. TXA may still be considered for bleeding trauma patients, but routine or widespread use in other indications should be approached with caution until further research provides more certainty.
With the help of a special guest, EBM guru Dr. Ken Milne of the The SGEM, Anton and Justin look at all the various potential indications for TXA and review the available evidence. Should we be using TXA for epistaxis, postpartum hemorrhage, hyphema or hemoptysis? Is it a miracle drug that stops all bleeding? Or has it been drastically overhyped? Was CRASH-2 enough to be definitive, or does the classic EBM mantra of "we need more studies" remain true?...
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