Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology
https://app.periodikos.com.br/journal/rba/article/doi/10.1016/j.bjane.2026.844731
Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology
Systematic Review

Effectiveness and safety of antifibrinolytic agents in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Eficácia e segurança de agentes antifibrinolíticos em cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio sem circulação extracorpórea: uma revisão sistemática e metanálise  

João Lucas W.C. Marchesani, Matheus H. Leite e Silva, Matheus S. Thomaz, Davi B. Wolff, Emerson C.L. Almeida, Michelle D.S.S. Costa

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Abstract

Background

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) is the most widely used cardiac intervention and can be accomplished without an extracorporeal circulation off-pump. The benefits of antifibrinolytics in off-pump CABG have yet to be demonstrated.

Methods

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing the use of antifibrinolytic agents (tranexamic acid, aprotinin, and epsilon-aminocaproic) versus controls in patients undergoing off-pump CABG were searched in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Outcomes included thromboembolic events, in-hospital mortality, overall mortality, bleeding, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) length of stay, and blood product transfusions. Meta-analyses were conducted using the Inverse Variance method under a random-effects model, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results

Of the 23,149 patients in 20 RCTs and seven observational studies, 51% received antifibrinolytic agents (tranexamic acid or aprotinin). Observational and randomized designs were analyzed separately in primary subgroup analyses. Significant reduction was found for overall mortality (RR = 0.72; [95% CI 0.54−0.95]) in the RCT subgroup. Red-blood-cell transfusion requirements were reduced (RR = 0.65; [95% CI 0.53, 0.78]) as well as Platelets (RR = 0.59; [95% CI 0.41, 0.84]) and fresh-frozen-plasma (RR = 0.39; [95% CI 0.36, 0.42]) transfusion requirement. The RCT subgroup showed a reduction in thromboembolic events (RR = 0.55; [95% CI 0.39, 0.79]).

Conclusion

In off-pump CABG, antifibrinolytics reduced the need for blood transfusion while reducing thromboembolic events and overall mortality in RCT subgroups, while pooled analyses combining RCTs and observational studies did not demonstrate significant reductions.

Prospero Link

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024545640.

Keywords

Antifibrinolytic agents; Aprotinin; Myocardial revascularization; Tranexamic acid

Resumo

Introdução

A cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (CRM) é a intervenção cardíaca mais amplamente utilizada e pode ser realizada sem circulação extracorpórea, na técnica off-pump. Os benefícios dos antifibrinolíticos na CRM off-pump ainda não foram completamente demonstrados.

Métodos

Ensaios clínicos randomizados (ECRs) e estudos observacionais que compararam o uso de agentes antifibrinolíticos (ácido tranexâmico, aprotinina e ácido ε-aminocaproico) versus controles em pacientes submetidos à CRM off-pump foram pesquisados nas bases PubMed, Embase e Cochrane. Os desfechos incluíram eventos tromboembólicos, mortalidade intra-hospitalar, mortalidade geral, sangramento, tempo de internação em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) e transfusão de hemoderivados. As metanálises foram conduzidas pelo método da variância inversa sob modelo de efeitos aleatórios, considerando p < 0,05 como estatisticamente significativo.

Resultados

Dos 23.149 pacientes incluídos em 20 ECRs e sete estudos observacionais, 51% receberam agentes antifibrinolíticos (ácido tranexâmico ou aprotinina). Os delineamentos observacionais e randomizados foram analisados separadamente nas análises primárias de subgrupos. Houve redução significativa da mortalidade geral (RR = 0,72; IC 95% 0,54–0,95) no subgrupo de ECRs. A necessidade de transfusão de concentrado de hemácias foi reduzida (RR = 0,65; IC 95% 0,53–0,78), assim como a transfusão de plaquetas (RR = 0,59; IC 95% 0,41–0,84) e de plasma fresco congelado (RR = 0,39; IC 95% 0,36–0,42). O subgrupo de ECRs também demonstrou redução de eventos tromboembólicos (RR = 0,55; IC 95% 0,39–0,79).

Conclusão

Na CRM off-pump, os antifibrinolíticos reduziram a necessidade de transfusão sanguínea, além de diminuírem eventos tromboembólicos e mortalidade geral em subgrupos de ECRs. Entretanto, análises agrupadas combinando ECRs e estudos observacionais não demonstraram reduções significativas.

Registro PROSPERO

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024545640

Palavras-chave

Agentes antifibrinolíticos; Aprotinina; Revascularização do miocárdio; Ácido tranexâmico  

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Submitted date:
06/23/2025

Accepted date:
01/04/2026

69f246daa95395447d3e3224 rba Articles
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