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Tranexamic acid reduces blood loss and transfusion requirements with no significant thrombotic adverse effects. Postoperative seizures have been seen in cardiac surgical patients in association with patient (advanced age, underlying neurologic disease, chronic kidney disease); surgical (open cardiac procedures, long bypass times); and drug (high tranexamic acid dose) risk factors. Tranexamic acid dosing regimens should be decreased in patients with chronic kidney dysfunction secondary to reduced clearance and drug accumulation. Optimal dosing for cardiac surgical patients has been recommended. Additional research is required to determine dosing regimens in major noncardiac surgery and plasma concentration levels associated with inducing seizures., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Because of a lack of contemporary data regarding seizures after cardiac surgery, we undertook a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 11 529 patients in whom cardiopulmonary bypass was used from January 2004 to December 2010. A convulsive seizure was defined as a transient episode of disturbed brain function characterised by abnormal involuntary motor movements. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of postoperative seizures. A total of 100 (0.9%) patients developed postoperative convulsive seizures. Generalised and focal seizures were identified in 68 and 32 patients, respectively. The median (IQR [range]) time after surgery when the seizure occurred was 7 (6-12 [1-216]) h and 8 (6-11 [4-18]) h, respectively. Epileptiform findings on electroencephalography were seen in 19 patients. Independent predictors of postoperative seizures included age, female sex, redo cardiac surgery, calcification of ascending aorta, congestive heart failure, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, duration of aortic cross-clamp and tranexamic acid. When tested in a multivariate regression analysis, tranexamic acid was a strong independent predictor of seizures (OR 14.3, 95% CI 5.5-36.7; p < 0.001). Patients with convulsive seizures had 2.5 times higher in-hospital mortality rates and twice the length of hospital stay compared with patients without convulsive seizures. Mean (IQR [range]) length of stay in the intensive care unit was 115 (49-228 [32-481]) h in patients with convulsive seizures compared with 26 (22-69 [14-1080]) h in patients without seizures (p < 0.001). Convulsive seizures are a serious postoperative complication after cardiac surgery. As tranexamic acid is the only modifiable factor, its administration, particularly in doses exceeding 80 mg.kg(-1), should be weighed against the risk of postoperative seizures.

Introduction: The controversy still surrounds the optimal dosing regimen of tranexamic acid (TA), primary antifibrinolytic agent used in high-risk surgeries. This study compares the pharmacokinetics profile obtained from the group of patients undergoing heart surgery with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with the theoretical model currently used as an established dosing regimen of TA in cardiac surgery., Methods: After induction of anesthesia, TA was administered intravenously as a bolus (30 mg/kg) infused over 15 minutes. Bolus was followed by an infusion of 16 mg·kg·h TA until the end of surgery (chest closure of the sternotomy wound). Before initiation of CPB, a bolus of 2 mg/kg was given to the pump prime. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 30-minute time intervals during the surgery and after surgery. Automated solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used for the determination of TA concentration. Blinded studies on monitoring of TA concentration were performed on 94 samples. Obtained results were compared with a previously described pharmacokinetic model of TA dosing., Results: The average concentration of TA during the use of CPB was 134 mcg/mL with the relative standard deviation 27%. The observed range of TA concentrations was 70-188 mcg/mL showing that individual patients can significantly exceed the recommended levels proposed by the theoretical model. lower limit of quantification of the proposed method was 1 mcg/mL. Intra- and interday accuracy was ±10% and precision was ≤12% at all concentration levels tested., Conclusions: The suitability of automated solid-phase microextraction for high-throughput clinical analysis was established for the first time. The obtained pharmacokinetic profiles showed significant interpatient variation in the concentration of TA during heart surgery with the use of CPB, which confirms the need of the therapeutic monitoring of this antifibrinolytic agent.