Trasylol was frequently used to limit the amount of blood loss during sugery for coronary artery bypass. It was initially approved for treatment in 1993. However, a January, 2006 article in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that Trasylol increases the risk of heart attack 48 percent, heart failure 109 percent, and stroke 181 percent, according to a study of nearly 4,400 patients. These statistics led the Food and Drug Adminsitration (FDA) to issue an advisory regarding a safety evaluation that is currently being conducted to assess the drug's risks. Additionally, the FDA has advised doctors to carefully weight the risks and benefits of Trasylol before administering the drug to patients.