Canadian research has shown that a Bayer anti-bleeding drug used during heart surgery dramatically increased the risk of dying compared to less-expensive alternatives.

The study found people who received aprotinin were 53 per cent more likely to die during surgery than people who received the other anti-bleeding agents, transexamic acid or aminocaproic acid.

The trial, led by researchers at the Ottawa Health Research Institute, was stopped early last fall when it became apparent the death rate was higher in patients receiving aprotinin.

In the aftermath of the stopping of the BART trial, as it is called, Bayer announced it was suspending worldwide sales of the drug, sold under the brand name Trasylol.

The findings, published today by the New England Journal of Medicine, show that for every 100 patients who received aprotinin during surgery, two more would die compared with a similar group receiving one of the other anti-bleeding agents.

An editorial in the journal suggests this is the end for aprotinin, but Bayer says it plans to study the findings before making a final decision on the future of the drug.