A novel hemostatic agent: the potential role of recombinant activated factor VII (RFVIIa) in anesthetic practice.

This is an excellent literature review on the adjuvant use of rFVIIa in treating severe bleeding associated with surgical procedures in non-hemophiliac patients. It gives an overview of the mechanism of action of rFVIIa and its efficacy in patients with hemophilia, platelet dysfunction and liver disease. It also reviews its efficacy in managing bleeding in relation to svere trauma, cardiac surgery, intra-abdominal bleeding and prostatectomy. The review concludes that prospective randomized trials are required to study the efficacy of this novel hemostatic agent.

– Maadh Aldouri