A recent clinical trial has investigated the effect of a drug called tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss during cesarean section.
A C-section (or cesarean birth) is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby when a vaginal delivery can't be done safely. Cesarean section is the surgical delivery of a baby through a cut (incision) made in the mother's abdomen and uterus. It is performed when doctors believe that it is safer for the mother, the baby, or both. Increasingly women are making an informed choice of getting a C-section instead of a normal vaginal delivery due to the fear of pain encountered during normal delivery.
Postpartum hemorrhage, or excessive bleeding after childbirth, is a serious complication that can lead to maternal death. It is more common in women who have had multiple cesarean sections.
Tranexamic Acid (TXA) is a medication used to prevent excessive bleeding during surgical procedures. However, its use during C-sections is controversial as the data available is insufficient to justify its use.
A clinical trial was conducted recently aimed at investigating the effect of using tranexamic acid to reduce blood loss during cesarean section.
The clinical study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology involved 110 women undergoing their 2nd or 3rd C sections divided into two groups. 55 women received 1g of tranexamic acid just before and after surgery while the remaining 55 women did not receive this drug. The women were followed for 24h at the end of which blood loss was calculated by laboratory testing.