What is aprotinin injection?

APROTININ (Trasylol®) affects the way in which blood clots. It is administered to patients who are undergoing open heart surgery. Aprotinin is mainly used during repeat coronary artery bypass surgery to reduce the amount of bleeding both during and after surgery. This reduces the amount of blood transfusion required.

Trasylol

Pronunciation: app-row-TIE-nin
Generic Name: Aprotinin
Brand Name: Trasylol

What is it used for?

Reducing blood loss and the need for a blood transfusion in people who are at increased risk of major bleeding during open heart surgery.

How does it work?

Trasylol injection/infusion contains the active ingredient aprotinin. (NB. Aprotinin is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.)

Aprotinin is a type of medicine called an antifibrinolytic. It is used to prevent bleeding and works by inactivating a substance in the blood called plasmin.

Plasmin is an enzyme that is produced in the blood to break down fibrin, which is the major constituent of blood clots. Aprotinin inactivates plasmin and so stops it from breaking down blood clots. This helps to prevent bleeding.

Aprotinin is used to prevent excessive, life-threatening blood loss and the need for a blood transfusion during open heart surgery in people who are at increased risk of bleeding.