[Use of aprotinin during pediatric heart surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of high doses of aprotinin during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPBP) in pediatric patients with a tendency to intra- and postoperative bleeding: children undergoing repeated operations and those with cyanotic cardiopathy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A simple retrospective, random sample of 71 pediatric patients with cyanogenic cardiopathy was studied. Group I (n = 36) received a test dose of 50,000 KIU in 2 min. The initial dose was 1,700,000 KIU (170 ml/m2 of body surface) i.v., at an infusion rate of 150 ml/h. CPBP circuit prime dose was 1,700,000 (170 ml/m2 of body surface), with replacement at a volume equivalent to the circuit prime. The maintenance dose was 400,000 KIU (40 ml/m2/h) i.v. Infusion was suspended 2 hours after a patient's arrival at the intensive care unit (ICU). We recorded red blood cell loss and blood product requirements in the first 24 hours in the ICU, duration of surgery, intra- and postoperative diuresis, and complications.

RESULTS: Group I required 13.96 +/- 12.09 ml/kg/h of packed red cells whereas Group II required 22 +/- 16.22 ml/kg/h (p < 0.05). The volume lost was less in Group I than in Group II (0.77 +/- 0.48 ml/kg/h vs. 2.12 +/- 3.9 ml/kg/h; p < 0.05). The means for intra- and postoperative diuresis in the first 24 hours were not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS: Aprotinin significantly reduces red blood cell loss and homologous blood transfusion requirements. No complications attributable to aprotinin were observed.