Tranxemic Acid and Vitamin K Injection to Control Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Cirrhotic Patients

Study summary

What the protocol is testing.

The goal of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of Tranexamic acid and vitamin K injection versus placebo in control of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in Egyptian cirrhotic patients. Researchers will compare the bleeding and mortality rates (at 5 days and 6 weeks post endoscopic intervention for UGIB) between patients receiving tranxemic acid and vitamin K injection and patients receiving placebo. Participants presenting with variceal bleeding will be randomly assigned to receive tranexamic acid (1 g loading dose followed by 3 g maintenance dose over 24- 48 hours) and intravenous injection of 10 mg daily of vitamin K for 24-48 h or matching placebo group receiving IV saline. Intervention will be carried out besides the recommended initial management of airway management, hemodynamic stabilization, octreotide analogue, PPI, antibiotics, and endoscopy. Follow-up All patients will be kept at the hospital for at least 5 days from the index bleed and will be discharged if no other reason was observed to keep them at the hospital. The rate of rebleeding, need for blood transfusion, hospital stay, adverse effects, and mortality rate were evaluated and compared across the groups. At discharge, all patients will be started on nonselective beta-blockers if there was no contraindication. They will be given instructions to attend to hospital if they noticed any melena or hematemesis. Second follow-up after 6 weeks for the rebleeding rate and mortality related to bleeding rate.