Hgd. Hendriks et al., An effective treatment of severe intractable bleeding after valve repair by one single dose of activated recombinant factor VII, ANESTH ANAL, 93(2), 2001, pp. 287-289
Citations number
13
Categorie Soggetti
Aneshtesia & Intensive Care","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
Excessive bleeding (>2 L) after cardiac surgery is encountered in 3% to 7%
of patients (1), and necessitates reexploration in 3.6% (2) to 4.2% (3) of
cases. A variety of hemostatic defects may contribute and are probably indu
ced by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), i.e., impaired platelet function, thro
mbocytopenia, hyperfibrinolysis, heparin effect, protamine excess, and defi
ciencies of coagulation factors (4,5). Platelet concentrates and plasma pro
ducts, as well as drugs such as aprotinin and desmopressin, are administere
d to improve hemostasis. Nevertheless, excessive bleeding persists in some
patients.
Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa, NovoSeven(R), NovoNordisk, Copenhagen, Den
mark) is a potentially effective hemostatic drug. Its beneficial effect was
demonstrated in hemophilia patients with inhibitors to factor VIII or IX (
6), and it has been suggested in a growing variety of hemostatic disorders
such as thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopathia (7), and disorders related to l
iver disease (8). We describe a patient who experienced intractable bleedin
g after heart valve repair with successful treatment using rFVIIa.