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Can a drug help prevent blood loss during bladder cancer surgery?


May 18, 2016



Drs. Rodney Breau, Ilias Cagiannos, and Franco Momoli were awarded $400,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to investigate whether a drug called tranexamic acid can reduce blood loss during surgery for patients with bladder cancer. About 8,300 Canadians are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year, and about a quarter will eventually have their bladder and some of the surrounding organs removed. Patients undergoing this surgery are at risk for significant blood loss and about 60 percent need a blood transfusion during or after the procedure. Tranexamic acid is already used to reduce blood loss from trauma or non-cancer surgery, but is not commonly used during bladder cancer surgery. The team’s study will be the first to examine whether using this medication during bladder surgery is safe and effective. This is one of 22 grants awarded to researchers at The Ottawa Hospital in the latest CIHR competition, announced in the summer of 2015.

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The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.

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For further information, please contact


Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
Cell: 613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca