Major Surgery in Hemophilia

The commercial development in Britain of antihemophilic factor (AHF) from ox and pig blood represents a notable advance in the treatment of hemophilia. With these materials, the hemostatic mechanism of even severe hemophiliacs may be made completely normal for a significant period of time, and major surgery safely undertaken. Nevertheless, in their present form the materials are antigenic and have other drawbacks. Each may therefore only be used for one period of treatment in any one hemophiliac, and should be reserved for life-saving procedures. Administration must be controlled by frequent assays of the AHF activity resulting in the patient's blood.
An illustrative case (a partial gastrectomy) is described and a number of practical details are discussed.