Tranexamic acid and the burden of early neurologic complications in valvular open-heart surgery: A propensity matched analysis in 3227 patients

[...]a recent larger retrospective study indicated a significant increase in perioperative stroke when tranexamic acid (TXA) was given during valvular open-heart procedures [4]. In the large randomized ATACAS (Aspirin and Tranexamic Acid for Coronary Artery Surgery) trial the occurrence of CS was closely associated with perioperative stroke [10]. [...]the authors suggested a possible thromboembolic nature of CS. [...]in a large retrospective investigation using a TXA dose which was comparable to ours, the authors found an increased risk of acute perioperative stroke in the subgroup of patients who underwent valvular procedures and received TXA [4].