CanadiEM MVP Infographic Series – CRASH-2 Trial
As part of the MVP infographics series, this article features the CRASH-2 Trial that evaluated the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) in trauma patients with significant hemorrhage.
Previous to this study, a significant amount of evidence existed in support of the use of TXA in patients undergoing elective surgery to prevent bleeding. The homeostatic mechanisms responsible for hemorrhage in trauma patients and those undergoing elective surgery are similar. Hemorrhage is responsible for 1/3 of in-hospital trauma deaths and the use of TXA in trauma situations was evaluated in this study.
This study was a randomized, placebo control, multicenter study across 40 countries and 274 hospitals. In the infographic above, the eligibility criteria are listed. The results of the study demonstrated that the use of TXA in the bleeding trauma patient reduced risk of death due to bleeding and all-cause mortality. This study also showed that the TXA did not increase vascular occlusive events and did not reduced the need for blood transfusions.
This post was peer reviewed by Alvin Chin and uploaded by Alixe Dick.
Reference
Crash-2 Trial Collaborators. (2010). Effects of TXA on death, vascular occlusive events, and blood transfusions in trauma patients with significant haemorrhage (CRASH02): a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet, 376, 23-32.