
NIV iN ARDS
Dr Swapnil Pawar & Dr Jose Chacko Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a well-established treatment for acute respiratory failure, especially in patients with hypercapnia and cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Conversely, the use of […]
Respiratory Physiology -Part 2 Dr Swapnil Pawar
COVID-19 Vaccine – The Mystery of Hope Dr Swapnil Pawar
Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Dr Swapnil Pawar
Post-Operative Fluid Management Dr Swapnil Pawar
Dr Swapnil Pawar October 26, 2019 1437 1 2
CRASH 3 – A Fairy Tale of Victory of Tranexamic acid & Dr Utako Okamoto Dr Swapnil Pawar
Intro –
As we know, TRANEXAMIC ACID is a synthetic analogue of the amino acid Lysine. It reduces bleeding by preventing the breakdown of fibrin clots i.e fibrinolysis.
The CRASH-2 trial showed that in patients with trauma with major extracranial bleeding, early administration (within 3 h of injury) of tranexamic acid reduces bleeding deaths by a third. Subsequent analyses showed that even a short delay in treatment reduces the benefit of tranexamic acid administration. However, patients with intra-cranial hemorrhage were excluded.
Each year, worldwide, there are more than 60 million new cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Despite compelling physiologic logic and preclinical data, attempts to treat patients with TBI with such diverse approaches as corticosteroids, progesterone, and brain cooling have been ineffective or worse.
The hard truths of TBI – control bleeding, avoid hypotension, and hypoxia i.e prevent secondary brain injury. Coagulopathy is a widely acknowledged contributor to TBI mortality and is associated with TBI severity.
Hypothesis –
Increased fibrinolysis, as indicated by increased concentrations of fibrinogen degradation products, is often seen in patients with TBI and predicts intracranial haemorrhage expansion. Therefore, early administration of tranexamic acid in patients with TBI might prevent or reduce intracranial haemorrhage expansion and thus avert brain herniation and death.
What’s Known –
Two small randomised trials of tranexamic acid in traumatic brain injury with a total of 510 patients. A Meta-analysis of the two trials showed a statistically significant reduction in death with tranexamic acid. But these trials provided no evidence about the effect of tranexamic acid on disability or adverse events.
Another recent RCT with 967 patients showed a mortality benefit.
Methods:
Design: International multi-center, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial
Setting: 175 hospitals in 29 countries, between July 20, 2012, and Jan 31, 2019.
Study population:
Inclusion criteria
Adults with TBI who were within 3 h of injury, had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 12 or lower or any intracranial bleeding on CT scan, and no major extracranial bleeding was eligible. The window period was initially 8 h, changed to 3 h in 2016, after about 4 years of the study (The CRASH II trial was published which suggested a lack of benefit after 3 h).
12 737 patients to receive tranexamic acid (6406 [50·3%]) or matching placebo (6331 [49·7%]), of whom 12 561 (98·6%) received the first dose.
9202 (72·2%) patients enrolled within 3 h of injury
Outcome data available on 12,639 patients (withdrawal of consent, outcome data not available, loss to follow-up)
Patients well matched at baseline including age, gender, duration of time after injury, systolic blood pressure, pupillary reaction
Intervention: Loading dose of 1 g of tranexamic acid infused over 10 min, started immediately after randomization, followed by an intravenous infusion of 1 g over 8 h.
Control: Matching placebo (normal saline)
Statistical methodology:
10 000 patients to detect a 15% relative reduction (20–17%) in mortality with 90% power (two¬sided α=1%). Later, the primary outcome was changed to in-hospital death within 28 days due to head injury; limited to recruitment and assignment within 3 h of injury. All analysis on an intention to treat basis.
Results:
2560 deaths due to head injury. The median time of death was 59h after injury (IQR 20–151)
Primary outcome: death due to head injury among patients randomly assigned within 3 h of injury
All patients: 855/4613 (18·5%) vs. 892/4514 (19·8%); RR: 0·94 CI: (0·86–1·02)
Excluding patients with bilateral unreactive pupils or GCS less than 3 (pre-specified sensitivity analysis): 485/3880 (12·5%) vs. 525/3757 (14·0%); RR: 0·89 CI: (0·80–1·00)
Head injury-related death, stratified by GCS and pupillary reaction
GCS: Mild to moderate head injury (GCS: 9–15) 5.8 vs. 7.5%; RR: 0·78 (0·64–0·95) significant
In GCS 3–8: no difference
Both pupils reactive: 440/3820 (11·5%) Vs. 493/3728 (13·2%); RR: 0·87 (0·77–0·98)
One or both pupils unreactive: no difference
Thus, tranexamic acid seemed to improve survival in less severely injured patients.
Time of administration after head injury made no difference. Within 1 h of injury, vs. 1 h and 3 h vs. more than 3 h after injury.
In a multivariable model adjusting for GCS, systolic blood pressure, and age.
Early treatment was more effective than later treatment in patients with mild and moderate head injury; no effect in severe head injury.
Analysis of the impact of high income vs. low-income countries (not prespecified). The reduction in the risk of head injury related death with tranexamic acid was larger in high income countries compared to low income and middle income countries this was not significant.
RR for death due to head injury within 24 h with tranexamic acid (this is based on the assumption that early deaths are due to worsening intracranial hemorrhage, and tranexamic acid may reduce deaths due to this):
Overall: 0·81 (95% CI 0·69–0·95)
After excluding GCS less than 3 and bilateral unreactive pupils: RR was 0·72 (0·56–0·92)
Effect of tranexamic acid on disability among survivors:
Using the Disability Rating Scale score
The mean disability scores among survivors were similar between groups for patients treated within 3 h of injury or after 3 h
Adverse events: including vascular occlusive events, fatal or non-fatal stroke, seizures, similar between groups.
Tranexamic acid is more beneficial in patients with less severe injury
Safe to use; no evidence of occlusive events
Strength –
Limitations –
Summary –
Overall very well-conducted RCT, which will change our practices.
Dr Swapnil Pawar October 20, 2019
Dr Swapnil Pawar & Dr Jose Chacko Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a well-established treatment for acute respiratory failure, especially in patients with hypercapnia and cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Conversely, the use of […]
Dr Swapnil Pawar December 24, 2020
Dr Swapnil Pawar December 14, 2020
©Allrights reserved. Get Your Web Site Designed By St.George Web Design. Get a quote on your web design.