OBJETIVO: Avaliar se a aprotinina em altas doses hemostáticas pode reduzir o processo inflamatório após circulação extracorpórea (CEC) em crianças. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo randomizado em crianças de 30 dias a 4 anos de idade, submetidas à correção de cardiopatia congênita acianogênica, com CEC e divididas em dois grupos, um denominado Controle (n=9) e o outro, Aprotinina (n=10). Neste, o fármaco foi administrado antes e durante a CEC. A resposta inflamatória sistêmica e disfunções hemostática e multiorgânicas foram analisadas por marcadores clínicos e bioquímicos. Foram consideradas significantes as diferenças com POBJECTIVE: To assess if the hemostatic high-dose aprotinin is able to reduce the inflammatory process after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in children. METHODS: A prospective randomized study was performed on children aged 30 days to 4 years who underwent correction of acyanogenic congenital heart disease with CPB and were divided into two groups: Control (n=9) and Aprotinin (n=10). In the Aprotinin Group the drug was administered before and during CPB and the systemic inflammatory response and hemostatic and multiorgan dysfunctions were assessed through clinical and biochemical markers. Differences were considered to be significant when P<0.05. RESULTS: The groups were similar regarding demographic and intraoperative variables, except for a greater hemodilution in the Aprotinin Group. The drug had no benefit regarding time of mechanical pulmonary ventilation, staying in the postoperative ICU and length of hospitalization, or regarding the use of inotropic drugs and renal function. The partial arterial oxygen pressure/ inspired oxygen fraction ratio (PaO2/FiO2) was significantly reduced 24 h after surgery in the Control Group. Blood loss was similar for both groups. Significant leukopenia was observed in the Aprotinin Group during CPB, followed by leukocytosis. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF- α), interleukins (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-6/IL-10 ratio did not differ significantly between groups. The postoperative IL-6/IL-10 ratio increased significantly in the Control Group. There were no complications with the use of aprotinin. CONCLUSION: In this study, hemostatic high-dose aprotinin did not minimize the clinical manifestations or serum markers of the inflammatory systemic response.