Economic evaluation of high-dose and low-dose aprotinin therapy during cardiopulmonary bypass

Background. Aprotinin therapy is now widely used during cardiac surgery. This study examined the clinical and economic effectiveness of high-dose or low-dose aprotinin in comparison to placebo. Methods. In a double blind, randomized study, three groups of 50 patients received high-dose aprotinin costing AUS$614 per patient (AUS$ = Australian dollars), low-dose aprotinin costing AUS$220 per patient or placebo. Resource use influenced by aprotinin therapy was measured. Results. Both doses were effective in reducing chest drainage and postoperative transfusion requirements, high-dose being more effective than low-dose. Both doses reduced the rate of reoperations for hemostasis. A base case of statistically significant differences associated with the high-dose and low-dose aprotinin showed cost savings of AUS$77 and AUS$348 per patient, respectively. If the demonstrated less significant reductions in operating room and ward stay are included, these savings become AUS$463 and AUS$715, respectively. Alternately, if cross-matches are replaced by group-and-hold and cell savers are not used, the savings per patient would be AUS$196 and AUS$467, respectively. Conclusions. While high-dose aprotinin is clinically more effective than low-dose aprotinin, low-dose therapy demonstrates greater cost savings.