Epsilon-Aminocaproaic Acid to Reduce the Need for Blood Transfusions During and Following Spine Surgery

Summary

Individuals who undergo spine surgery often have a significant loss of blood and may require multiple blood transfusions. Research has shown that epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) may reduce the amount of blood lost during surgery, which would decrease the number of blood transfusions required. This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of EACA at reducing blood loss and the need for blood transfusions in individuals undergoing spine surgery.

Timeline

Start

2000-09

Primary completion

2006-02

Completion

2006-02

Publications

• Background Goodnough LT, Bach RG. Anemia, transfusion, and mortality. N Engl J Med. 2001 Oct 25;345(17):1272-4. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200110253451711. No abstract available.
• Background Troianos CA, Sypula RW, Lucas DM, D'Amico F, Mathie TB, Desai M, Pasqual RT, Pellegrini RV, Newfeld ML. The effect of prophylactic epsilon-aminocaproic acid on bleeding, transfusions, platelet function, and fibrinolysis during coronary artery bypass grafting. Anesthesiology. 1999 Aug;91(2):430-5. doi: 10.1097/00000542-199908000-00017.
• Background Slaughter TF, Faghih F, Greenberg CS, Leslie JB, Sladen RN. The effects of epsilon-aminocaproic acid on fibrinolysis and thrombin generation during cardiac surgery. Anesth Analg. 1997 Dec;85(6):1221-6. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199712000-00008.
• Background Florentino-Pineda I, Thompson GH, Poe-Kochert C, Huang RP, Haber LL, Blakemore LC. The effect of amicar on perioperative blood loss in idiopathic scoliosis: the results of a prospective, randomized double-blind study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2004 Feb 1;29(3):233-8. doi: 10.1097/01.brs.0000109883.18015.b9.
• Berenholtz SM, Pham JC, Garrett-Mayer E, Atchison CW, Kostuik JP, Cohen DB, Nundy S, Dorman T, Ness PM, Klag MJ, Pronovost PJ, Kebaish KM. Effect of epsilon aminocaproic acid on red-cell transfusion requirements in major spinal surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Sep 1;34(19):2096-103. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181b1fab2.

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