Successful use of activated recombinant factor VII in life threatening bleeding after thoracic surgery

Swiss Med Wkly. 2007 Jul 14;137(27-28):407-10. doi: 10.4414/smw.2007.11762.

Abstract

We present three patients in whom life-threatening haemorrhage following lung resection was successfully managed using activated recombinant factor VII (NovoSeven). In one case, activated recombinant factor VII was the only therapy administered to manage bleeding, and in the two remaining cases, activated recombinant factor VII was administered after patients failed to respond to conventional therapy. All patients demonstrated effective haemostasis and improved coagulation parameters as a result of treatment with activated recombinant factor VII. Our experience with the clinical use of rFVIIa suggests that this agent may provide effective hemostasis following lifethreatening postoperative bleeding after major thoracic surgery. Despite these favorable results, randomized, placebo - controlled trials are needed to identify optimal treatment strategy, patient selection, and safety of treatment in patients with massive bleeding following major thoracic surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Aged
  • Blood Loss, Surgical*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Factor VII / therapeutic use*
  • Factor VIIa
  • Hemostatics / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Lung / surgery
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Thoracic Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Hemostatics
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Factor VII
  • recombinant FVIIa
  • Factor VIIa