Aprotinin versus tranexamic acid in children undergoing cardiac surgery: an observational study

Prophylactic Use of Antifibrinolytics During Pediatric Cardiac Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Postoperative Bleeding and Transfusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effect of intraoperative antifibrinolytics, including tranexamic acid (TXA), aminocaproic acid (EACA), or aprotinin, on bleeding in children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

DATA SOURCES

Relevant articles were systematically searched from Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to November 15, 2021.

STUDY SELECTION

Abstracts were screened, and full texts were reviewed using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guideline.

DATA EXTRACTION

A standardized data extraction tool was used.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Sixty-eight studies including 28,735 patients were analyzed. TXA compared with placebo resulted in a mean decrease in chest tube output of 9.1 mL/kg (95% CI, 6.0-12.3 mL/kg), I2 equals to 65.2%, p value of less than 0.001, platelet requirement of 2.9 mL/kg (95% CI, 0.1-5.8 mL/kg), I2 =72.5%, p value less than 0.001 and plasma requirement of 4.0 mL/kg (95% CI, 0.6-7.2 mL/kg), I2 equals to 94.5%, p value less than0.001. Aprotinin compared with placebo resulted in a mean decrease in chest tube output of 4.3 mL/kg (2.4-6.2 mL/kg), I2 equals to 66.3%, p value of less than 0.001, platelet transfusion of 4.6 mL/kg (95% CI, 0.6-8.6 mL/kg), I2 equals to 93.6%, p value of less than 0.001, and plasma transfusion of 7.7 mL/kg (95% CI, 2.1-13.2 mL/kg), I2 equals to 95.3%, p value of less than 0.001. EACA compared with placebo resulted in a mean decrease in chest tube output of 9.2 mL/kg (2.3-21.0 mL/kg), I2 equals to 96.4%, p value of less than 0.001, RBC transfusion of 7.2 mL/kg (95% CI, 2.4-12.1 mL/kg), I2 equals to 94.5%, p value equals to 0.002, and platelet transfusion of 10.7 mL/kg (95% CI, 2.9-18.5 mL/kg), I2 equals to 0%, p value of less than 0.001. No statistical difference was observed in chest tube output when TXA was compared with aprotinin. Subgroup analysis of cyanotic patients showed a significant decrease in chest tube output, platelet requirement, and plasma requirement for patients receiving aprotinin. Overall, the quality of evidence was moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

Antifibrinolytics are effective at decreasing blood loss and blood product requirement in children undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB although the quality of evidence is only moderate.

Efficacy and safety of aprotinin in paediatric cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The relicensing of aprotinin in Europe and Canada has stimulated discussions on its usefulness in paediatric cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically evaluate the available evidence on the efficacy and safety of aprotinin in paediatric cardiac surgery.

DESIGN

Systematic review of all randomised and observational studies comparing aprotinin with tranexamic acid, epsilon aminocaproic acid, placebo or no drug in paediatric cardiac surgery. Meta-analyses were performed on efficacy and safety outcomes.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science and Embase were searched from January 2000 to March 2021.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies that enrolled children under 18 years undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

RESULTS

Thirty-two studies enrolling a total of 63 894 paediatric cardiac procedures were included. Aprotinin significantly reduced total blood loss [mean difference -4.70 ml kg-1, 95% confidence interval (CI), -7.88 to -1.53; P = 0.004], postoperative transfusion requirements and the incidence of surgical re-exploration for bleeding [odds ratio (OR) 0.74, 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.97; P = 0.03]. Aprotinin had no effects on 30-day mortality (OR 1.02, 95% CI, 0.93 to 1.11; P = 0.73) and on other safety outcomes, except for the incidence of renal replacement therapy (RRT), which was significantly increased in patients given aprotinin (OR 1.29, 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.54; P = 0.006). Findings from observational and randomised controlled trials did not largely differ. A sub-group analysis in neonates showed that aprotinin significantly reduced packed red blood cell transfusions and the incidence of postoperative surgical re-exploration for bleeding and/or tamponade. When compared with lysine analogues, aprotinin was more effective at reducing bleeding and transfusion without increasing the risk of side effects.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis suggests that aprotinin is effective and well tolerated in paediatric cardiac surgery. Given the large heterogeneity of the results and the risk of selection bias in observational studies, large randomised controlled trials are warranted.