For more than 20 years, Cochrane has produced systematic reviews of primary research in human health care and health policy. We are internationally recognized as the highest standard in evidence-based healthcare resources. The Cochrane Making a Difference series focuses on stories of how Cochrane evidence has made an impact on real-world health decision making and outcomes.

More than four million people worldwide die of injuries every year, often because of extensive blood loss. Antifibrinolytic drugs, including tranexamic acid (TXA), promote blood clotting. The Cochrane Review 'Antifibrinolytic drugs for acute traumatic injury', published in May 2015 from the Cochrane Injuries Group, found evidence that using TXA safely reduces mortality in trauma patients with bleeding without increasing the risk of adverse events.

The review includes high-quality evidence gathered from more than 20,000 patients in 40 countries. As a result of these findings, TXA is now being used as an intervention for traumatic injuries by armed forces and ambulance services around the world, and has been added to the WHO Essential Medicines list.

Review author Ian Roberts tells us more about this important review and its impact on practice: