Initial resuscitation and surgical management of patients with thoracic trauma continue to evolve. Improvements in prehospital care and diagnostic techniques as well as development of minimally invasive interventions mean that the anesthesiologist may be required to provide care to unstable patients in an expanded range of scenarios and environments.

In conclusion, although the benefits of aprotinin on blood loss are well established, this study does not provide support for the use of aprotinin to reduce PGD in lung transplantation and indicates that aprotinin may in fact have a detrimental effect.