Use of recombinant activated factor VII in cardiac surgery for an effective treatment of severe intractable bleeding

Experience gained with administration of supranormal-therapeutic doses (90 microg/kg) of recombinant activated factor VII in 7 cardiac surgery patients is presented. The patients were given recombinant activated factor VII postoperatively for intractable bleeding, 5 of them after surgical revision. Administration of recombinant activated factor VII was associated with significant reduction in blood loss (P < 0.05) and shortening of INR and aPTT in laboratory tests. None of the patients needed reoperation. Administration of recombinant activated factor VII proved highly effective in management of massive hemorrhage in cardiac surgery.