Avoiding transfusions in children undergoing cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized trials of aprotinin.
Aprotinin, a potent antifibrinolytic drug, reduces the proportion of adults who receive blood transfusions during cardiac surgery, although the effect in children remains unclear. We performed a systematic review of the literature to identify all English language, randomized controlled trials of aprotinin involving children undergoing corrective or palliative cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. All studies were assessed for methodological quality, and sources of heterogeneity were examined. We measured the effect of aprotinin on the proportion of children transfused, the volume of blood transfused, and the volume of chest tube drainage. Twelve trials enrolling 626 eligible children met the inclusion criteria. Aprotinin reduced the proportion of children who received red blood cell or whole blood transfusions during cardiac surgery by 33% (relative risk = 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.51 to 0.89). Aprotinin did not have a significant effect on the volume of blood transfused or on the amount of postoperative chest tube drainage. Most of the studies were of poor methodological quality and predefined transfusion triggers were infrequently used. Overall, aprotinin reduced the proportion of children who received blood transfusion during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Further high-quality trials with clinically important outcomes may be warranted before aprotinin can be routinely recommended in this population.
Canadian Blood Services, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Donald M
DM
Arnold
Dean A
DA
Fergusson
Anthony K C
AK
Chan
Richard J
RJ
Cook
Graeme A
GA
Fraser
Wendy
W
Lim
Morris A
MA
Blajchman
Deborah J
DJ
Cook
D007611:Aprotinin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D007611:Aprotinin