Dr. Marous and Dr. Czyz

The Thursday Craig Czyz, DO winner was Charlotte L, Marous, MD for her presentation “Effects of Preoperative Intravenous Versus Subcutaneous Tranexamic Acid on Postoperative Periorbital Ecchymosis and Edema Following Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Comparative Study” presentation.

I first heard about tranexamic acid (TXA) at an ASOPRS Fall Scientific Symposium a few years ago and was attracted to this seemingly simple but powerful and safe adjunct to eyelid surgery. Improving the patient experience is always at the forefront of our minds as surgeons. In fellowship, I had the support and autonomy to implement TXA in my patients, but found the dosing protocols were highly varied in the literature. I spoke to multiple facial plastic and orthopedic surgeons who had been using TXA for years to get a sense of their regimens, which exposed the variance among practitioners. I then scoured online journals to compile TXA dosing and outcomes in facial surgery and again found high discrepancies in these articles. Beyond that, no article in the facial plastic literature compared intravenous versus local subcutaneous methods of administration on post-operative bruising and swelling. I designed my trial to address this gap in the literature in hopes of better understanding how this medication could improve patient experience and safety while undergoing periocular surgery. My results were encouraging, and the use of TXA in ophthalmology shows promise in optimizing surgical recovery.

 Thank you to the Fall ASOPRS 2023 Scientific Symposium committee, who reviewed and critically evaluated so many great projects to curate a high-impact meeting in San Francisco and for extending me the opportunity to present my findings alongside so many distinguished leaders in our field. And my deepest gratitude to the ASOPRS Foundation for the incredible honor of receiving the Craig Czyz, DO Bart Frueh Award for Best YASOPRS Presentation. My aspirations for a career in oculoplastics started years ago – I remember sitting in the audience at ASOPRS meetings as a young resident in awe of the presenters, inspired by their confidence and aptitude. With encouragement and support from my early mentors, I was given the opportunity to contribute ideas, present projects, and develop my own scientific investigational skills. Now in my first year out in practice as an oculoplastic surgeon, it is surreal and extremely humbling to be recognized by my peers for my work. I am privileged to be part of this esteemed ASOPRS community, one that celebrates innovation, values the pursuit of knowledge and encourages meaningful contributions to society. Thank you again for this unforgettable honor, and I look forward to many more meetings together.