Heart Beat: Safety of bypass drug questioned
Heart Beat
Safety of bypass drug questioned
Are you headed for bypass surgery sometime soon? If so, ask your surgeon if he or she plans to use a clotting drug called Trasylol (aprotinin). Two reports suggest that you'd be better off with a safer and cheaper alternative.
Just before bypass surgery, surgeons often administer drugs that increase blood's natural clotting ability. These drugs can minimize blood loss and prevent the need for a transfusion. The choices include two generic drugs, aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid, and Trasylol. Since it was approved in 1993, Trasylol has been used in thousands of bypass operations.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.