title: The prophylactic use of tranexamic acid and aprotinin in orthotopic liver transplantation: a comparative study.
abstract: The efficacy of tranexamic acid (TA) and aprotinin (AP) in reducing blood product requirements in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was compared in a prospective, randomized and double-blind study. One hundred and twenty seven consecutive patients undergoing OLT were enrolled; TA was administered to 64 OLT patients at a dose of 10mg /kg/h and aprotinin was administered to 63 OLT patients at a loading dose of 2 x 10(6) KIU followed by an infusion of 500,000 KIU/h. The portocaval shunt could not be performed in 14 OLT patients in the TA group and in 13 OLT patients in the AP group. However, all OLT patients that received either drug were included in the analysis. Perioperative management was standardized. Hemogram, coagulation tests, and blood product requirements were recorded during OLT and during the first 24 hours. No differences in diagnosis, Child score, preoperative coagulation tests, and intraoperative data were found between groups. No significant differences were observed in hemogram and intraoperative coagulation tests with the exception of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Similarly, there were no intergroup differences in transfusion requirements. Thromboembolic events, reoperations and mortality were similar in both groups. In conclusion, administration of regular doses of TA and AP during OLT did not result in large differences between the two groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain. antonia@altecom.es
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalmau
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabaté
authors.forename: Maylin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartolomé
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rafecas
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Figueras
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jaurrieta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007611:Aprotinin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014148:Tranexamic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D006490:Hemostatics; D014148:Tranexamic Acid; D007611:Aprotinin