Use of aprotinin in thoracic aortic operations associated with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest: a meta-analysis

Objective: To evaluate complications involved in the use of aprotinin in patients after thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection surgeries associated with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Methods: A systematic review of literature was carried out, with a search strategy of low specificity, in the Medline® and LILACS® databases. Two independent researchers carried out article selection following the criteria adopted for inclusion of studies, grouping them into two groups, one where low doses of aprotinin were employed and the other with high doses. The results are presented as relative risk for the dichotomy variable, and as weighted mean differences for continuous variables, both with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Seven articles were included in the systematic review selected from 2044 revised studies. Meta-analysis of the only randomized controlled trial did not demonstrate risks with the use of aprotinin, and presented a significant reduction in bleeding and blood transfusion requirements. Meta-analysis of the studies that used low doses of aprotinin was similar. On the other hand, meta-analysis of the studies that adopted high doses of aprotinin did not present statistical significance in any of the studied variables. Conclusion: Despite of the results not showing any effective risks with the use of aprotinin, the statistical power of the meta-analysis is low. Therefore, new randomized controlled trials are required, in order to detect possible complications in the use of aprotinin in this type of operation. Descriptors: Aprotinin. Aorta thoracic. Hypothermia induced. Meta-analysis.