PERIOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE TRANEXAMIC ACID REDUCES THE LOCAL WOUND COMPLICATION RATE AFTER SURGERY FOR BREAST-CANCER

A randomized double-blind trial has shown that, in 160 women with brea st cancer undergoing lumpectomy or mastectomy with axillary clearance, perioperative and postoperative administration of tranexamic acid 1 g three times daily resulted in a significant reduction in the mean pos toperative drainage volume compared with patients given placebo (283 v ersus 432 ml, P < 0.001). The frequency of postoperative seroma format ion was also decreased by tranexamic acid administration (27 versus 37 per cent, P = 0.2). Haematoma formation was infrequent in both groups and was not altered by administration of tranexamic acid. No infectio us complications occurred. Age over 60 years was a significant risk fa ctor for overall wound complications but tumour size and regional lymp h node metastases were not.; Tranexamic acid may be used to reduce the frequency of postoperative wound complications following surgery for breast cancer.