[Aprotinin in cardiac surgery: more risks than usefulness?]

Abstract

Antifibrinolytic therapy with the serine protease inhibitor Aprotinin or the lysine analogues epsilon-aminocapronic acid or tranexamic acid is a therapeutic measure to reduce perioperative blood loss during cardiac surgery. In an international, prospective, non-randomised phase 4 observation study, Mangano et al. investigated the effectiveness and side-effects of Aprotinin, epsilon-aminocapronic acid and tranexamic acid in comparison to no antifibrinolytic therapy in a total of 4,374 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation. In the opinion of Mangano et al. the results of this study question the safety and effectiveness of Aprotinin for reduction of perioperative blood loss by cardiac surgery patients. Despite a critical review of the study and results reported by Mangano et al., the authors of the present paper come to the conclusion that, in view of the availability of more reasonably priced alternatives in Germany, it appears to be sensible to give preference to tranexamic acid instead of aprotinin.