Use of Antifibrinolytics in Pediatric Life-Threatening Hemorrhage: A Prospective Observational Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVES To assess the impact of antifibrinolytics in children with life-threatening hemorrhage. DESIGN Secondary analysis of the MAssive Transfusion epidemiology and outcomes In Children study dataset, a prospective observational study of children with life-threatening bleeding events. SETTING Twenty-four children's hospitals in the United States, Canada, and Italy. PATIENTS Children 0-17 years old who received greater than 40 mL/kg of total blood products over 6 hours or were transfused under activation of massive transfusion protocol. INTERVENTION/EXPOSURE Children were compared according to receipt of antifibrinolytic medication (tranexamic acid or aminocaproic acid) during the bleeding event. MEASURES AND MAIN RESULTS Patient characteristics, medications administered, and clinical outcomes were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The primary outcome was 24-hour mortality. Of 449 patients analyzed, median age was 7 years (2-15 yr), and 55% were male. The etiology of bleeding was 46% traumatic, 34% operative, and 20% medical. Twelve percent received antifibrinolytic medication during the bleeding event (n = 54 unique subjects; n = 18 epsilon aminocaproic acid, n = 35 tranexamic acid, and n = 1 both). The antifibrinolytic group was comparable with the nonantifibrinolytic group on baseline demographic and physiologic parameters; the antifibrinolytic group had longer massive transfusion protocol duration, received greater volume blood products, and received factor VII more frequently. In the antifibrinolytic group, there was significantly less 6-hour mortality overall (6% vs 17%; p = 0.04) and less 6-hour mortality due to hemorrhage (4% vs 14%; p = 0.04). After adjusting for age, bleeding etiology, Pediatric Risk of Mortality score, and plasma deficit, the antifibrinolytic group had decreased mortality at 6- and 24-hour postbleed (adjusted odds ratio, 0.29 [95% CI, 0.09-0.93]; p = 0.04 and adjusted odds ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.21-0.98]; p = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Administration of antifibrinolytic medications during the life-threatening event was independently associated with improved 6- and 24-hour survivals in bleeding children. Consideration should be given to use of antifibrinolytics in pediatric patients with life-threatening hemorrhage.