Improved early graft survival in patients receiving aprotinin during orthotopic liver transplantation

Effect of Aprotinin on Liver Injury after Transplantation of Extended Criteria Donor Grafts in Humans: A Retrospective Propensity Score Matched Cohort Analysis

The number of patients awaiting liver transplantation still widely exceeds the number of donated organs available. Patients receiving extended criteria donor (ECD) organs are especially prone to an aggravated ischemia reperfusion syndrome during liver transplantation leading to massive hemodynamic stress and possible impairment in organ function. Previous studies have demonstrated aprotinin to ameliorate reperfusion injury and early graft survival. In this single center retrospective analysis of 84 propensity score matched patients out of 274 liver transplantation patients between 2010 and 2014 (OLT), we describe the association of aprotinin with postreperfusion syndrome (PRS), early allograft dysfunction (EAD: INR 1,6, AST/ALT > 2000 within 7–10 days) and recipient survival. The incidence of PRS (52.4% vs. 47.6%) and 30-day mortality did not differ (4.8 vs. 0%; p = 0.152) but patients treated with aprotinin suffered more often from EAD (64.3% vs. 40.5%, p = 0.029) compared to controls. Acceptable or poor (OR = 3.3, p = 0.035; OR = 9.5, p = 0.003) organ quality were independent predictors of EAD. Our data do not support the notion that aprotinin prevents nor attenuates PRS, EAD or mortality.

Requirements for transfusion and postoperative outcomes in orthotopic liver transplantation: A meta-analysis on aprotinin

AIM: To study the effect of aprotinin used in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) on the intraoperative requirement for blood products and on the incidence of laparotomy for bleeding, thrombotic events and mortality.

METHODS: A systematic review of the literature in the electronic database Medline and the Clinic Trials Registry Database was performed. Literature that did not fit our study were excluded. Patients in the reviewed studies were divided into two groups; one group used aprotinin (aprotinin group) while the other did not (control group). The data in the literature that fit our requirements were recorded. Weighted mean differences (WMD) in the requirements for blood products between the aprotinin group and the control group were tested using a fixed effect model. A Z test was performed to examine their reliability; the Fleiss method of fixed effect model was used to analyze data on postoperative events, and odds ratios (ORs) were tested and merged.

RESULTS: Seven citations were examined in our study. Among them, a requirement for blood products was reported in 4 studies including 321 patients, while postoperative events were reported in 5 studies including 477 patients. The requirement for red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma in the aprotinin group was statistically lower than that in the control group (WMD = -1.80 units, 95% CI, -3.38 to -0.22; WMD = -3.99 units, 95% CI, -6.47 to -1.50, respectively). However, no significant difference was indicated in the incidence of laparotomy for bleeding, thrombotic events and mortality between the two groups. Analysis on blood loss, anaphylactic reactions and renal function was not performed in this study due to a lack of sufficient information.

CONCLUSION: Aprotinin can reduce the intraoperative requirement for blood products in OLT, and has no significant effect on the incidence of laparotomy for bleeding, thrombotic events and mortality.

Use of aprotinin in extrapleural pneumonectomy: effect on hemostasis and incidence of complications

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of aprotinin on blood loss in extrapleural pneumonectomy and to identify potential treatment-related complications.

METHODS

Between March 1, 1999, and July 1, 2004, 27 (52%) of 52 patients who underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy received half-dose aprotinin (1 million kallikrein inhibition units load; 250,000 kallikrein inhibition units per hour infusion). A retrospective data review and analysis were performed.

RESULTS

The mean age was 59.8 +/- 11 years, and 45 of 52 patients (87%) were male. Indications for extrapleural pneumonectomy were malignant pleural mesothelioma (n = 50) and pleural-based sarcoma (n = 2). The administration of aprotinin had no significant effect on intraoperative blood loss (1,010 +/- 599 versus 1,182 +/- 688 mL; p = 0.34) or units of packed red blood cells transfused intraoperatively (2.0 +/- 1.7 versus 1.9 +/- 1.7 units; p = 0.86). None of the patients who received aprotinin required the use of non-packed red blood cells blood products, but 4 patients (16%) who did not receive aprotinin required such transfusion (p < 0.05). Postoperative chest tube output at 12 and 24 hours was lower in the aprotinin group (381 +/- 195 and 867 +/- 313 mL, respectively) compared with the control group (725 +/- 527 and 1,221 +/- 442 mL, respectively; p < 0.03). There was no significant difference in incidence of postoperative thromboembolic events between the aprotinin and the control group (5 versus 4 patients; p = 1.0), and 2 patients in each group experienced renal insufficiency (p = 1.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Half-dose aprotinin did not decrease intraoperative blood loss or packed red blood cells transfusion in extrapleural pneumonectomy. However, use of aprotinin was associated with decreased use of non-packed red blood cells blood products and lower postoperative chest tube output. Aprotinin administration was not associated with an increase in incidence of postoperative complications.

Antifibrinolytics in orthotopic liver transplantation: current status and controversies

This article reviews the current status and controversies of the 3 commonly used antifibrinolytics-epsilon-aminocaproic acid, tranexamic acid and aprotinin-during liver transplantation. There is no general consensus on how, when or which antifibrinolytics should be used in liver transplantation. Although these drugs appear to reduce blood loss and decrease transfusion requirements during liver transplantation, their use is not supported uniformly in clinical trials. Aprotinin has been studied more extensively in clinical trials and appear to offer more advantages compared to two other antifibrinolytics. Because of the diverse population of liver transplant recipients and the potential adverse effects of antifibrinolytics, especially life-threatening thromboembolism, careful patient selection and close monitoring is prudent. Further studies addressing the risks and benefits of antifibrinolytics in the setting of liver transplantation are warranted.

The prophylactic use of tranexamic acid and aprotinin in orthotopic liver transplantation: a comparative study

The efficacy of tranexamic acid (TA) and aprotinin (AP) in reducing blood product requirements in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was compared in a prospective, randomized and double-blind study. One hundred and twenty seven consecutive patients undergoing OLT were enrolled; TA was administered to 64 OLT patients at a dose of 10mg /kg/h and aprotinin was administered to 63 OLT patients at a loading dose of 2 x 10(6) KIU followed by an infusion of 500,000 KIU/h. The portocaval shunt could not be performed in 14 OLT patients in the TA group and in 13 OLT patients in the AP group. However, all OLT patients that received either drug were included in the analysis. Perioperative management was standardized. Hemogram, coagulation tests, and blood product requirements were recorded during OLT and during the first 24 hours. No differences in diagnosis, Child score, preoperative coagulation tests, and intraoperative data were found between groups. No significant differences were observed in hemogram and intraoperative coagulation tests with the exception of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Similarly, there were no intergroup differences in transfusion requirements. Thromboembolic events, reoperations and mortality were similar in both groups. In conclusion, administration of regular doses of TA and AP during OLT did not result in large differences between the two groups.

Transplante de fígado em hospital universitário do Recife: resultados iniciais

OBJETIVO: Apresentar a experiência e enfatizar o aprendizado obtido em um programa incipiente de transplante hepático desenvolvido em Hospital Universitário de Recife-PE. MÉTODO: Foram estudados os primeiros 20 pacientes submetidos a transplante ortotópico de fígado, de maneira simplificada, no período de agosto de 1999 a março de 2002. Foram analisadas as indicações, a reserva funcional hepática pré-operatória, o volume de sangue transfundido, o tempo de isquemia, o tempo de permanência em UTI, a morbidade e a mortalidade. A cirrose por vírus C foi a indicação de transplante em 9 pacientes (45%), seguida de cirrose alcoólica em 7 (35%). Quarenta e cinco por cento dos pacientes foram classificados como CHILD-PUGH A, 35% como B, e apenas 20% como C. RESULTADOS: O tempo de isquemia médio foi de 9h 09' (+ 2h 33'). Foram utilizadas em média 2,88 (+ 2,11) unidades de hemácias. A técnica empregada foi a convencional sem bypass em 90% dos casos e piggyback nos restantes. No pós-operatório, houve um caso de trombose de artéria hepática e outro de veia porta. Oito pacientes apresentaram complicações biliares, todas resolvidas por via endoscópica ou percutânea. A sobrevida global é de 100%, no período de seguimento de 2 a 32 meses. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que é possível realizar transplantes de fígado, com bons resultados, em hospital universitário do Nordeste do Brasil, desde que se reúnam as mínimas condições de estrutura física e recursos humanos.