Recombinant activated factor VII in paediatric cardiac surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To review the use of recombinant activated factor VII in paediatric cardiac surgery.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Paediatric intensive care unit in a stand-alone university-affiliated children's hospital.


METHODS
Cardiac surgical patients who received recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa, NovoSeven; NovoNordisk, Copenhagen, Denmark) between June 2002 and June 2003 at The Children's Hospital at Westmead.


RESULTS
Six children undergoing cardiac surgery received rFVIIa. Recombinant activated factor VII was administered if bleeding was excessive and persisted despite appropriate investigation and attention to haemostasis by surgical and medical staff. An intravenous dose of 180 microg/kg was given and repeated 2 h later. All of the six patients responded well to rFVIIa with achievement of haemostasis. No adverse events were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Recombinant activated factor VII achieved haemostasis in six paediatric cardiac surgical patients. Good outcomes and no adverse events were noted in these children.
Egan
Jonathan R
JR
Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001 Westmead, NSW 2145, Sydney, Australia. jonathoe@chw.edu.au
Lammi
Ahti
A
Schell
David N
DN
Gillis
Jonathan
J
Nunn
Graham R
GR
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005167:Factor VII / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015942:Factor VIIa; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013903:Thoracic Surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005167:Factor VII; C103587:recombinant FVIIa; D015942:Factor VIIa