Aprotinin May Decrease Blood Loss in Complex Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery, But It May Also Increase the Risk of Acute Renal Failure

In Brief Study Design. Matched cohort comparison. Objective. This study examines the potential for aprotinin to conserve blood in adults undergoing long thoracolumbar deformity procedures and characterizes patients at risk for acute renal failure. Summary of Background Data. Aprotinin has been shown to reduce intraoperative blood loss and reduce transfusion requirement in pediatric spine and cardiac surgery populations. Previous literature (before 2006) has not reported acute renal failure as a potential complication. This study was designed to examine the efficacy of aprotinin in reducing operative blood loss following long spinal arthrodesis in adult spinal deformity patients and to analyze complications. Methods. Adult spinal deformity patients undergoing long spinal arthrodesis at 1 institution between 2001 and 2005 were analyzed. Patients were matched according to age and type of procedure performed. Forty patients received high-dose aprotinin (Group A) intraoperatively, and 41 patients matched as controls (Group NA) received no aprotinin. Outcome variables included intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative transfusion requirement, early postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirement, and postoperative complications. Results. Average blood loss for Group A was 906 mL and 1.3 L for Group NA. The difference was statistically significant with a P < 0.05. Complications seen in Group A included 4 cases of acute renal failure requiring dialysis and 1 deep venous thrombosis. In Group NA, there was only 1 case of acute renal failure (presumed to be secondary to inadvertent gentamycin overdose) and 1 case of pulmonary embolus. The 4 Group A patients with acute renal failure were female, 61 to 73 years of age, with various comorbidities. All required inpatient hemodialysis. Three averaged 2 months of continued outpatient dialysis before resolution of renal compromise while 1 patient is on chronic dialysis. Conclusion. In long spinal arthrodesis for complex adult spinal deformity surgery, aprotinin does reduce intraoperative blood loss, but may increase the risk of acute renal failure, especially in women over the age of 60. Aprotinin has been shown to reduce intraoperative blood loss and reduce transfusion requirement in pediatric spine and cardiac surgery populations. This study suggests that, while aprotinin may reduce intraoperative blood loss, it may increase the risk of acute renal failure, especially in women over the age of 60.