Effect of Tranexamic Acid on Inpatient Admission and Revision Rates in Primary Rhinoplasty: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

[BACKGROUND] Tranexamic acid (TXA) is commonly used to reduce intraoperative bleeding and complications across surgical specialties. In rhinoplasty, prior studies indicate that TXA may reduce postoperative edema and ecchymosis, but its effects on revision rates and inpatient admissions remain unclear. This study evaluated TXA's efficacy in improving perioperative outcomes in primary rhinoplasty, analyzing admission rates, revisions, and other postoperative events.

[METHODS] A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX database of 133 million US medical records spanning 20 years. Patients undergoing primary rhinoplasty were identified, and outcomes up to 2 weeks postsurgery were compared between those administered TXA during rhinoplasty and those who were not. Revision rates within the first year were also analyzed. Propensity score-matching accounted for demographics, tobacco use, and comorbidities impacting bleeding risk.

[RESULTS] We identified 1639 TXA and 33,221 non-TXA rhinoplasty patients. After matching, 1627 remained in each cohort. TXA patients had significantly lower inpatient admissions within 2 weeks postoperatively (odds ratio 0.492; = 0.003) and fewer revisions within a year (odds ratio 0.441; < 0.028). No significant differences were found in mean hemoglobin levels ( = 0.4) or emergency department visits ( = 0.109). No incidences of hematoma, embolism, thrombosis, or vascular complications were reported.

[CONCLUSIONS] Although TXA may not impact total blood loss enough to alter hemoglobin, its ability to minimize minor bleeding may improve intraoperative visibility, perhaps allowing for greater precision and reducing complication risks leading to revisions. Importantly, TXA did not increase adverse events, maintaining a favorable safety profile.