title: Aprotinin in children undergoing correction of congenital heart defects. A double-blind pilot study.
abstract: Thirty children undergoing surgical repair for congenital heart defects were randomly selected for a double-blind study on the anti-hemorrhagic and blood-saving properties of aprotinin. The treatment group comprised 14 patients who received aprotinin 7 mg/kg of body weight until the end of perfusion. The placebo group (n = 16) received an infusion of the corresponding volumes of saline. Patients treated with aprotinin bled less during the operation (12.6 ml/kg versus 18.1 ml/kg, p = 0.25) and in the first 24 postoperative hours (chest drainage 12.1 ml/kg versus 17.7 ml/kg, p = 0.07). Hemoglobin loss into chest drainage was reduced in the treated group by half (0.66 versus 1.21 gm in 24 hours, p = 0.07). Fewer blood donors were needed during hospitalization by patients receiving aprotinin (1.07 versus 2.75 donors per patient, p = 0.04). Postoperative transfusion was unnecessary in 64.2% of patients receiving aprotinin compared with only 25% of the placebo group (p = 0.03). Aprotinin increased diuresis significantly during perfusion (4.3 ml/kg versus 1.0 ml/kg, p = 0.005). Other parameters are evaluated, and considerations are made regarding adequacy of the dosage regimen. The drug seems to be safe and easy to handle in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Herynkopf
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lucchese
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalil
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prates
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Nesralla
mesh_terms: D007611:Aprotinin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007611:Aprotinin