The use of tranexamic acid to reduce postoperative bleeding following cardiac surgery: a double-blind randomized trial.

Bleeding during the first 24 hours following cardiac surgery using cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) is a serious complication. Attempts to modify the degree of postoperative bleeding with pharmacologic therapy have met with limited success. Tranexamic acid, a potent inhibitor of plasminogen, may decrease the amount of mediastinal bleeding following surgery utilizing CPB.