Comparison of the effects of Tranexamic Acid and Remifentanil on the Reduction of Intraoperative and Postoperative Hemorrhage during Dacriocystorhynostomy

Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is one of the most common ophthalmologic surgeries frequently associated with bleeding. Considering lack of a similar study, we decided to evaluate and compare the effects of remifentanil and tranexamic acid on the amount of bleeding during DCR surgery.

This double-blind randomized clinical trial included 162 patients who were candidate for DCR surgery at Feiz Hospital between 2019 and 2020. Patients were selected by gradual random sampling method and randomly divided into three groups receiving either tranexamic acid or remifentanil or normal saline(control group) during surgery. Bleeding rate, hemodynamic variables and duration of surgery were compared among the groups.

The mean volume of intraoperative blood loss was significantly higher in the control group than in the tranexamic acid and remifentanil groups. Also, the mean volume of intra operative blood loss was more in the tranexamic acid group than in the remifentanil group but the difference between the two groups was not significant in this regard(P>0.05). The mean postoperative blood loss was significantly higher in the remifentanil group than that in the tranexamic acid and control groups. Total (intraoperative and postoperative) blood loss was significantly higher in the control group in comparison to the blood loss in the remifentanil and tranexamic acid groups. Also, total blood loss in the remifentanil group was significantly higher than that in the tranexamic acid group (P<0.05). Changes in hemodynamic variables showed no significant differences among the groups.

We found lower amount of bleeding in the tranexamic acid and remifentanil groups compared to that in the control group. We recommend use of these two drugs for reduction of bleeding in the patients undergoing dacriocystorhynostomy. Also tranexamic acid is more effective than remifentanyl in this regard.