Aprotinin for Open Cardiac Surgery in Cyanotic Heart Disease
ABSTRACT
In a prospective randomized study, aprotinin was assessed in cyanotic children with tetralogy of Fallot undergoing total correction utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass. In group A (n = 25), 20,000 kallikrein inhibiting units of aprotinin per kilogram of body weight was administered before cardiopulmonary bypass and the same amount was added to the pump prime. In group B (n = 25), only a single dose of aprotinin was given before cardiopulmonary bypass. Blood loss and blood product requirements were compared with those in a control group of 25 patients who did not receive aprotinin. Blood loss and blood products used in groups A and B did not differ but the control group had significantly more bleeding and transfusion requirements. A single dose of aprotinin before cardiopulmonary bypass is recommended in cyanotic patients undergoing intracardiac repair.
