[Gastrectomy in congenital factor VII deficiency with substitution of factor VII concentrate]

Case report of a 57-year old man, who had a severe congenital factor VII deficiency (factor VII 2%), and who was substituted with factor VII concentrate, before undergoing a subtotal gastrectomy. The patient was previously asymptomatic. The operation and wound-healing was without complication. That the patient, despite his factor VII deficiency, showed no clinical signs of a bleeding diathesis, raises the question, whether in such a case a factor VII substitution is necessary. 3 children of the patient (2 sons aged 25 and 23 years, and an 18 year old daughter) were examined and found to be heterozygote carriers to a degree of 32%, 42% and 60% factor VII; none showed sure signs of a bleeding tendency related to factor VII deficiency.