Use of intravenous premarin to decrease postoperative blood loss after pediatric scoliosis surgery

Study Design. The hemostatic effect of conjugated estrogens (Premarin, Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA) has been reported in the literature, but no study has investigated its effectiveness in decreasing blood loss in pediatric spinal procedures. Objective. To determine the effectiveness of intravenously administered Premarin in the immediate postoperative period in decreasing Hemovac drainage postoperatively. Methods. Sixty-four adolescent patients undergoing spinal surgery, both posterior and anterior/posterior procedures, were studied. Thirty-two patients served as control subjects. The other 32 received Premarin, 1 mg/kg intravenously in the immediate postoperative period, Hemovac drainage was measured during a period of 48 hours. Results. In measuring Hemovac drainage for 48 hours in both groups, there was a 37% decrease in the volume of the postoperative drainage (mL/kg) in the patients receiving Premarin postoperatively. Measurement of adjusted volumes (mL/kg) revealed a statistically significant decrease in postoperative bleeding after administration of Premarin. Conclusions. Administration of Premarin resulted in a 37% decrease in the volume of postoperative drainage (mL/kg) without complications. Premarin appears to be effective in decreasing postoperative blood loss in a pediatric postoperative spinal population.