PAN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES
e-ISSN: 2672-5924
Volume 8, No. 1, April 2024
Pages 768-775
DOI: 10.36108/pajols/4202/80.0130
The Role of Tranexamic Acid in Preventing Primary Post-Partum Haemorrhage During Caesarean Section: A Randomized Control Trial
Badmus B. Oduola-Owoo1, Nosimot O. Davies2, Joy O. Chionuma3, Rasheed M. Wemimo4*, Gbenga Olorunfemi5, Latifat T. Oduola-Owoo6, Adedotun M. Olusi7.
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Center, Ebute Metta, Lagos.
2Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, College of Medicine University of Lagos.
3Lagos State University College of Medicine/Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
4Department of Anatomic Pathology, Federal University Dutse, College of Medicine and Allied Sci-ence, Faculty of Basic Clinical Science, Jigawa State
5Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
6Department of Radiology, Federal Medical Center, Ebute Metta, Lagos
7Royal infirmary Edinburgh, 51 Little France Cres, Old Dalkeith Rd, Edinburgh EH16 4SA
Abstract
Background: Primary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal mortality in Ni-geria. Caesarean section (CS), though a life-saving alternative to vaginal delivery in several maternity units globally, is a risk factor for PPH. Its rate has increased globally with wide variability amongst various countries. Although tranexamic acid (TXA) is an affordable medication that has been widely investigated for the treatment of PPH, its role as prophylaxis against PPH during Caesarean section has not been well characterized in our environment.
Methods: A randomized, double-blind, two-center study of 130 consenting pregnant women who were scheduled for either elective or emergency LSCS at the Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and Federal Medical Center, Ebute-Metta (FMCEB) Lagos. Data was imported into Stata version 17 (StataCorp, USA) software for analysis.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.8 ± 4.76 years. The prevalence of PPH among the placebo group was four times that of the Tranexamic acid group. (P-value < 0.0001). There was a sta-tistically significant lower estimated blood loss in the intervention compared to the placebo arm of the study (P-value < 0.0001)
Conclusion: Prophylactic use of intravenous Tranexamic acid as an adjunct to uterotonic at caesarean section is efficacious in reducing blood loss and preventing post-partum haemorrhage.
Keywords: Tranexamic acid, Caesarean section, Blood loss, Post-partum Haemorrhage,