MedPath

Tranexamic Acid to Reduce Infection After Gastrointestinal Surgery

Phase 4
Recruiting
Conditions
Gastrointestinal Complication
Infection Wound
Healthcare Associated Infection
Bleeding
Anesthesia
Interventions
Drug: Placebos
Registration Number
NCT04192435
Lead Sponsor
Bayside Health
Brief Summary

This international, multicentre, pragmatic, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial of TxA versus placebo will enrol 3,300 patients throughout Australia and internationally. This is an effectiveness trial - some elements of the trial are deliberately left to the perioperative clinicians' discretion in order to reflect usual practice and maximise generalisability.

Detailed Description

Study Aims: To conduct a large, multicentre clinical trial of tranexamic acid (TxA), an antifibrinolytic drug routinely used to reduce bleeding in cardiac and some orthopaedic surgery, in 3,300 patients undergoing major gastrointestinal (GI) surgery. Our specific aims are to investigate whether TxA:

Aim 1: Reduces surgical site infection ("wound infection"), and other healthcare-associated infections (pneumonia and sepsis).

Aim 2: Reduces red cell transfusion in GI surgery. Aim 3: Reduces a pooled composite of any serious postoperative complications, and so increases "days alive and at home up to 30 days after surgery" (DAH30).

Aim 4: To evaluate the temporal effect of TxA on perioperative immune and inflammatory responses.

Study Hypothesis Prophylactic TxA administration in patients undergoing major GI surgery reduces the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) after surgery when compared with placebo.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
3300
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Adult patients scheduled for elective or semi-elective (inpatient) open or lap-assisted GI surgery (oesophageal, gastric, hepatobiliary, colorectal) with one or more risk factors for complications:
  • Age ≥70 years
  • ASA physical status 3 or 4
  • Known or suspected history of: heart failure, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or chronic respiratory disease
  • Obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2)
  • Anaemia (preoperative haemoglobin <130 g/l in males and <120 g/l in females)
  • Renal impairment (se. creatinine ≥150mol/l)
  • Low albumin (<30 g/L)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Poor spoken and or written language comprehension
  • Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and other minor (eg. closure of stoma) surgery
  • Pre-existing infection/sepsis
  • Known history of: spontaneous pulmonary embolism, arterial thrombosis familial thrombophilia (e.g. Lupus anticoagulant, protein C deficiency, factor V Leiden)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PlaceboPlacebosAt induction of anesthesia and prior to surgical incision a bolus of 0.15 ml/kg ( up to a maximum of 15 ml) , and then commence an infusion of 0.05 ml/kg/h until the end of surgery. The total maximal administered study drug volume will be 30 ml.
Tranexamic acidTranexamic AcidAt induction of anesthesia and prior to surgical incision a bolus of 0.15 ml/kg ( up to a maximum of 15 ml) , and then commence an infusion of 0.05 ml/kg/h until the end of surgery. The total maximal administered study drug volume will be 30 ml.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Incidence of Surgical Site Infectionfrom surgical incision to 30 days post surgical incision

defined by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
C-reactive proteinPostoperative Day 3 (three days after surgical incision)

peak

Red cell transfusionfrom surgical incision to hospital discharge (from index surgery) or 30 days.

Total units given

Other healthcare-associated infectionsfrom surgical incision to 30 days

sepsis, pneumonia, blood stream infection, UTI, etc; all using CDC-guided definitions

Days at home up to 30 days after surgery (DAH30).From surgical incision to 30 days

Time that patient spends at home in the 30 days following surgery

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Alfred Hospital

🇦🇺

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath