The effects of aprotinin on blood product transfusion associated with thoracic aortic surgery requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of aprotinin on blood product use and postoperative complications in patients undergoing thoracic aortic surgery requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.


METHODS
A retrospective study.


METHODS
A university hospital.


METHODS
Nineteen patients who underwent elective or urgent thoracic aortic surgery.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
The total number of units of packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets was significantly less in the group that received aprotinin (p = 0.01, 0.04, and 0.01). The intraoperative transfusion of packed red blood cells and platelets, collection and retransfusion of cell saver, and postoperative transfusion of fresh frozen plasma were also significantly less in the aprotinin group (p = 0.01, 0.02, 0.01, and 0.05). No patient in either group sustained renal dysfunction or a myocardial infarction. Two patients who had not received aprotinin suffered from chronic postoperative seizures, and one patient who had received aprotinin sustained a perioperative stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose aprotinin administration significantly decreases blood product transfusion requirements in the setting of thoracic aortic surgery requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, and it does not appear to be associated with renal or myocardial dysfunction.
Seigne
P W
PW
Department of Anesthesiology, Cork University Hospital and University College, Ireland.
Shorten
G D
GD
Johnson
R G
RG
Comunale
M E
ME
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D007611:Aprotinin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma; D017713:Platelet Transfusion; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures
D006490:Hemostatics; D007611:Aprotinin