Korean J Anesthesiol.  2010 Jan;58(1):25-30. 10.4097/kjae.2010.58.1.25.

The effect of ulinastatin on hemostasis in major orthopedic surgery

• Lee JY
• Lee JY
• Chon JY
• Moon HS
• Hong SJ

• KMID: 2031776
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2010.58.1.25

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Ulinastatin, a urinary trypsin inhibitor, is widely used to treat acute systemic inflammatory disorders. However, the effects of ulinastatin, especially on the potential for hemostasis, have not been fully elucidated. This study examined whether ulinastatin had any beneficial effects on blood loss and blood transfusion requirements in patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery. METHODS: Eighty patients, aged 18 to 75 years, scheduled for major orthopedic surgery were enrolled in this study and were divided into the ulinastatin (n = 40) and control (n = 40) groups. Following the induction of general anesthesia, and immediately before the surgical incision, the patients in the ulinastatin group were given 5,000 units/kg of ulinastatin, which were mixed in 100 ml normal saline intravenously over 30 min, while those in the control group received the same volume of normal saline. The amounts of blood loss, infused fluid, and transfused blood products were measured throughout the study period. Blood samples for coagulation parameters were obtained before inducing anesthesia (T1), at the end of surgery (T2), and 12 h after surgery (T3). RESULTS: The amounts of blood loss and infused fluid during surgery were not significantly different between the two groups. However, 12 h postoperative blood loss was significantly less in the ulinastatin group than in the control group (255.0 +/- 133.2 ml VS. 395.4 +/- 338.4 ml, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that a single infusion of ulinastatin in major orthopedic surgery is associated with decreased blood loss in the early postoperative period.

Keyword

Blood loss; Orthopedic surgery; Transfusion; Ulinastatin

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, General
Blood Transfusion
Glycoproteins
Hemostasis
Humans
Orthopedics
Postoperative Hemorrhage
Postoperative Period
Trypsin
Glycoproteins
Trypsin