New study bad news for Trasylol

Specialties CCU

Published

Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiothoracics, VADs.

Bayer, the manufacturer of Trasylol, contracted a CRO to perform retrospective analysis of around 60000 pts who received either Trasylol or another drug (aminocaproic acid, tranexamic acid). Trasylol was associated with more deaths, serious renal damage, strokes and congestive cardiac failure.

http://www.fda.gov/CDER/DRUG/advisory/aprotinin20060929.htm

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All of our surgeons but one are still using it, in spite of the NEJH article a while back. We have excellent outcomes with our heart surgery patients. I tend to agree with the point the website you posted in that the Bayer study was not a randomly assigned study, so the patients who recieved trasylol based on need from the physicians work up were the sicker patients, and at higher risk for complications anyway.

There is always a risk/benefit ratio to any drug/procedure/surgery that is offered to patients. I think in light of this study though that it bears heavy consideration for trasylol to be given to all patients, and that a little more research should be done before a definitive answer is reached on it's safety in the cardiac surgery population.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiothoracics, VADs.

I agree, we still see it used on everyone. Perhaps it's worth a randomized controlled trial, or a practice change to give it only to those at high risk of bleeding complications.

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