Reduction of Postprostatectomy Bleeding by Epsilon-Aminocaproic Acid

Abstract

EPSILON-aminocaproic acid (EACA) is a potent inhibitor of plasminogen activation in relatively low concentrations (5 × 10–4M) and of plasmin at considerably higher concentrations (1 × 10–2M).^{1 , 2} This drug, first described by Japanese investigators, has the structural formula: Clinical studies have indicated that it is effective in hemorrhagic disorders associated with increased blood fibrinolytic activity,^{3 4 5} and its use in prostatic surgery was first suggested by McNicol and his associates.⁶ These investigators suggested that hemostasis in the prostatic bed might be disrupted by clot lysis induced by the presence in urine of urokinase, an activator of plasminogen. Administration of . . .