Does intravenous tranexamic acid reduce bleeding during mastoidectomy?

Mastoidectomy is one of the important head and neck surgeries which is mostly performed due to complications of otitis media. This procedure is performed under microscopic surgery and as a result, a clean visual field is required for surgeons. Bleeding is one of the important issues during microscopic surgeries which reduces visualization. In this clinical trial, we aimed to examine effects of tranexamic acid in reducing bleeding during mastoidectomy. Here we investigated 69 patients who were candidates of mastoidectomy. Patients were randomized into two groups. In group 1, patients received tranexamic acid (10 mg/kg) at the beginning of surgeries along with other anesthetic drugs. In group 2, patients received normal saline as placebo with the same volume. Data regarding to bleeding, duration of surgeries, heart rate and blood pressure of patients were collected and analyzed. We indicated that administration of tranexamic acid is associated with significant reduced bleeding and also reduced blood pressure during surgeries (P<0.001). Taken together, we suggest that otolaryngologists should administer tranexamic acid during microscopic surgeries in order to reduce bleeding and provide a better visual field.