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The antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid has been shown to decrease blood loss and transfusion requirements during surgery. In the randomized, controlled, partly industry-funded international CRASH-2 (Clinical Randomisation of an Antifibrinolytic in Significant Haemorrhage 2) trial, researchers evaluated the effect of tranexamic acid on outcomes in 20,211 adult trauma patients with (or at risk for) bleeding. Tranexamic acid (loading dose of 1 g during 10 minutes followed by infusion of 1 g during 8 hours) or placebo was administered within 8 hours of injury.
The rate of in-hospital mortality from all causes within 4 weeks of injury was significantly lower in the tranexamic acid group than in the placebo group (14.5% vs. 16.0%; relative ris…