Effect of recombinant activated factor VII on perioperative blood loss in patients undergoing retropubic prostatectomy: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial.

This is an interesting and important controlled study on using rFVIIa electively in the beginning of major surgery to reduce blood loss and blood transfusion. Patients were divided into three groups who received either placebo or rFVIIa at two doses: 20 μg/kg or 40 μg/kg. There was significant reduction in blood loss in the rFVIIa treated groups, no transfusion in the group which received 40 μg/kg, while 7 of 12 placebo-treated patients were transfused.

– Maadh Aldouri