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Observational Study
. 2022 Apr 1;50(4):e382-e392.
doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000005383.

Use of Antifibrinolytics in Pediatric Life-Threatening Hemorrhage: A Prospective Observational Multicenter Study

Philip C Spinella  1 , Julie C Leonard  2 , Barbara A Gaines  3 , James F Luther  4 , Stephen R Wisniewski  4 , Cassandra D Josephson  5 , Christine M Leeper  1 ; MAssive Transfusion epidemiology and outcomes In Children (MATIC) Investigators and BloodNet
Affiliations
Observational Study

Use of Antifibrinolytics in Pediatric Life-Threatening Hemorrhage: A Prospective Observational Multicenter Study

Philip C Spinella et al. Crit Care Med. .

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the impact of antifibrinolytics in children with life-threatening hemorrhage.

Design: Secondary analysis of the MAssive Transfusion epidemiology and outcomes In Children study dataset, a prospective observational study of children with life-threatening bleeding events.

Setting: Twenty-four children's hospitals in the United States, Canada, and Italy.

Patients: Children 0-17 years old who received greater than 40 mL/kg of total blood products over 6 hours or were transfused under activation of massive transfusion protocol.

Intervention/exposure: Children were compared according to receipt of antifibrinolytic medication (tranexamic acid or aminocaproic acid) during the bleeding event.

Measurements and main results: Patient characteristics, medications administered, and clinical outcomes were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The primary outcome was 24-hour mortality. Of 449 patients analyzed, median age was 7 years (2-15 yr), and 55% were male. The etiology of bleeding was 46% traumatic, 34% operative, and 20% medical. Twelve percent received antifibrinolytic medication during the bleeding event (n = 54 unique subjects; n = 18 epsilon aminocaproic acid, n = 35 tranexamic acid, and n = 1 both). The antifibrinolytic group was comparable with the nonantifibrinolytic group on baseline demographic and physiologic parameters; the antifibrinolytic group had longer massive transfusion protocol duration, received greater volume blood products, and received factor VII more frequently. In the antifibrinolytic group, there was significantly less 6-hour mortality overall (6% vs 17%; p = 0.04) and less 6-hour mortality due to hemorrhage (4% vs 14%; p = 0.04). After adjusting for age, bleeding etiology, Pediatric Risk of Mortality score, and plasma deficit, the antifibrinolytic group had decreased mortality at 6- and 24-hour postbleed (adjusted odds ratio, 0.29 [95% CI, 0.09-0.93]; p = 0.04 and adjusted odds ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.21-0.98]; p = 0.04, respectively).

Conclusions: Administration of antifibrinolytic medications during the life-threatening event was independently associated with improved 6- and 24-hour survivals in bleeding children. Consideration should be given to use of antifibrinolytics in pediatric patients with life-threatening hemorrhage.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Spinella is a consultant for Secure Transfusion Services, Hemanext, and Haima; Dr. Leonard receives royalty payments from UpToDate; Dr. Josephson is a consultant for Immucor, Octapharma, and Cellphine, and has an unrestricted grant from Medtronics. Drs. Spinella, Leonard, and Josephson received support for article research from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Leonard’s institution received funding from National Institutes of Child Health and Development. The remaining authors have disclosed that they do not have any potential conflicts of interest.

Comment in

References

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