[Effectiveness of activated factor VII in postoperative bleeding after cardiac surgery with extracorporeal membrane...

A 4-year-old girl suffered severe postoperative chest tube drainage bleeding after cardiac transplant surgery requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Transfusions of platelets and fresh frozen plasma failed to decrease the bleeding. At 2.5 hours a dose of 180 mcg/kg of recombinant activated Factor VII was administered. The hemorrhage decreased from 45 ml/kg/h in the first 2.5 hours to 17 ml/kg/h in the next 2.5 hours. The same dose of recombinant activated Factor VII was administered and the hemorrhage suddenly decreased to 1.5 ml/kg/h in the next 2.5 hours, with subsequent disappearance. No adverse events related to activated Factor VII were observed. Recombinant activated Factor VII may be useful in some cases of severe postoperative bleeding in children after cardiac surgery. Randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm its safety and efficacy, and to evaluate the most suitable dose.