Journal
Hyperfibrinolysis during intracranial surgery: effect of high dose aprotinin.
A patient undergoing intracranial surgery developed disseminated intravascular coagulation with life threatening perioperative bleeding. Thromboelastography established the diagnosis of hyperfibrinolysis, usually a fatal complication of a neurosurgical operation.
With the administration of a high dose regimen of aprotinin (Trasylol) the haemorrhage was controlled and the hyperfibrinolytic state reversed. Evaluation of blood samples from the jugular bulb suggested that there was a pronounced local release of tissue plasminogen activator into the circulation.