The intraoperative use of Amicar to reduce bleeding associated with open heart surgery.

In an effort to reduce morbidity associated with transfusion of blood products, Amicar is used as a prophylactic inhibitor of hyperfibrinolysis associated with diffuse perioperative bleeding in patients undergoing open heart surgery. Previous studies indicate a significant reduction of intraoperative and postoperative bleeding in patients receiving Amicar during open heart surgery. Fifteen historical controls who did not receive Amicar were compared to 15 nonrandomized, prospective patients who received Amicar and who underwent open heart surgery by the same surgeon. The study found a significant reduction in postoperative chest tube output for the group receiving Amicar, as well as a reduction in perioperative blood product transfusion in patients who received Amicar. One patient in the Amicar group experienced a thrombotic event.