Tranexamic acid: current use in obstetrics, major orthopedic, and trauma surgery.

Purpose: In this Continuing Professional Development module, we review the practical pharmacology of tranexamic acid and its clinical use in trauma, obstetrics, and major orthopedic surgery.

Principal Findings: Tranexamic acid is a synthetic drug that inhibits fibrinolysis. Multiple clinical trials in various clinical settings have shown that it can reduce blood loss, transfusion rates, and bleeding-associated mortality.