Abstract

Spinal fusions for scoliosis may be associated with significant intra-operative blood loss which can necessitate immediate treatment, including intra-operative blood transfusions. In addition to effects related to hypovolemia from blood loss such as hypoperfusion and coagulopathy, adverse effects related to administration of blood products can place the patient at enhanced risk of complications. Because of the risk of such profound adverse effects, efforts should be made to reduce the degree blood loss during spine surgery. The benefit of the antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid (TXA) has been demonstrated in various surgical settings for reducing blood loss and transfusion requirements, however, practical TXA use for spinal fusions in pediatric patients is inconsistent despite evidence supporting efficacy and safety in this patient population. This presentation presents a case study highlighting TXA use in a pediatric patient undergoing a posterior spinal fusion. The current evidence of the efficacy of TXA in pediatric spine cases, coupled with the evidence proving the superior safety profile of the drug warrants it use in such cases. In this case, the patient did not require any blood products outside of returning the collected cell saver, and the patient did not experience any adverse reactions related to TXA administration.

Author Details

Hannah Coblentz Satterfield, RN, BSN, SRNA and David Sanford, DNP, CRNA

Sigma Membership

Unknown

Lead Author Affiliation

Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Case Study/Series

Research Approach

Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice

Keywords:

Tranexamic Acid, Pediatric Patients, Spinal Fusion, Scoliosis

Advisor

Sanford, David

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Samford University

Degree Year

2024

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

Date of Issue

2024-01-24

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