HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ray, M. J. Articles by O’Brien, M. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ray, M. J. Articles by O’Brien, M. F.

Ann Thorac Surg 1999;68:940-945
© 1999 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Original Articles: Cardiovascular

Economic evaluation of high-dose and low-dose aprotinin therapy during cardiopulmonary bypass

^a Departments of Haematology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Victoria, Australia
^b Cardiac Surgery, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
^c the School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

Address reprint requests to Dr Ray, Haemostasis Research Laboratory, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, 4032, Australia;
e-mail: mjray{at}bit.net.au

Background. Aprotinin therapy is now widely used during cardiac surgery. This study examined the clinical and economic effectiveness of high-dose or low-dose aprotinin in comparison to placebo.

Methods. In a double blind, randomized study, three groups of 50 patients received high-dose aprotinin costing AUS$614 per patient (AUS$ = Australian dollars), low-dose aprotinin costing AUS$220 per patient or placebo. Resource use influenced by aprotinin therapy was measured.

Results. Both doses were effective in reducing chest drainage and postoperative transfusion requirements, high-dose being more effective than low-dose. Both doses reduced the rate of reoperations for hemostasis. A base case of statistically significant differences associated with the high-dose and low-dose aprotinin showed cost savings of AUS$77 and AUS$348 per patient, respectively. If the demonstrated less significant reductions in operating room and ward stay are included, these savings become AUS$463 and AUS$715, respectively. Alternately, if cross-matches are replaced by group-and-hold and cell savers are not used, the savings per patient would be AUS$196 and AUS$467, respectively.

Conclusions. While high-dose aprotinin is clinically more effective than low-dose aprotinin, low-dose therapy demonstrates greater cost savings.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. R. Brown, N. J.O. Birkmeyer, and G. T. O'Connor Meta-Analysis Comparing the Effectiveness and Adverse Outcomes of Antifibrinolytic Agents in Cardiac Surgery Circulation, June 5, 2007; 115(22): 2801 - 2813. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Fergusson, K. C. Glass, B. Hutton, and S. Shapiro Randomized controlled trials of aprotinin in cardiac surgery: could clinical equipoise have stopped the bleeding? Clinical Trials, June 1, 2005; 2(3): 218 - 232. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. S. Donahue Factor V Leiden and Perioperative Risk Anesth. Analg., June 1, 2004; 98(6): 1623 - 1634. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. K. Smith, S. K. Datta, L. H. Muhlbaier, G. Samsa, A. Nadel, and J. Lipscomb Cost analysis of aprotinin for coronary artery bypass patients: analysis of the randomized trials Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 2004; 77(2): 635 - 642. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Englberger, B. Kipfer, P. A. Berdat, U. E. Nydegger, and T. P. Carrel Aprotinin in coronary operation with cardiopulmonary bypass: does "low-dose" aprotinin inhibit the inflammatory response? Ann. Thorac. Surg., June 1, 2002; 73(6): 1897 - 1904. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]