The use of recombinant activated factor VII to control haemorrhage following exenteration and massive transfusion in coagulopathic patients

• Published in: Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo Vol. 136 Suppl 3; pp. 231 - 239
• Main Authors: Vucelić, Dragica, Kecmanović, Dragutin, Pavlov, Maja, Ranković, Vitomir, Masirević, Vesna, Djukić, Alma, Palibrk, Ivan, Tomasević, Ljubica, Velicković, Jelena, Milovanović, Aleksandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Croatian; Serbian
• Published: Serbia 01.09.2008
• Subjects: Aged; Blood Coagulation Disorders - drug therapy; Blood Coagulation Disorders - etiology; Blood Loss, Surgical; Factor VIIa - therapeutic use; Female; Hemostatics - therapeutic use; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pelvic Exenteration - adverse effects; Postoperative Hemorrhage - drug therapy; Recombinant Proteins - therapeutic use; Transfusion Reaction
• ISSN: 0370-8179
• DOI: 10.2298/SARH08S3231V

Exentheresis pelvis totalis due to locally advanced pelvic malignancies is an extensive surgical procedure. The operation is commonly associated with anticipated perioperative haemorrhage requiring a large volume of haemoproducts. Sometimes, the intervention can result in unexpected massive and uncontrolled haemorrhage that is frequently a combination of surgical and coagulopathic bleeding. Attempts to arrest massive bleeding by conventional means may fail. We describe our experience in the use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in three previously hemostatically competent patients who underwent exentheresis in order to control massive bleeding resulting from dilution coagulopathy in the operating theatre, as well as in the treatment of postoperative bleeding associated with consumptive coagulopathy. Of these, two massively transfused patients developed dilution coagulopathy in the operative theatre, which was poorly responsive to conventional management. In both cases, a single dose of rFVIIa (70 microg/kg and 60 microg/kg respectively) was given. Prompt clinical response was achieved and operations were successfully finished. In the third case, the patient developed consumptive coagulopathy on the first day after surgical procedure that was treated with conventional therapy. On the second postoperative day the patient became anuric and experienced severe intraabdominal bleeding. The bleeding was successfully controlled with rFVIIa in a single dose of 70 microg/kg. RFVIIa can be a treatment option in patients suffering from intractable coagulopathic bleeding when standard therapy has failed.