The etiology of severe hemorrhage associated with trauma includes coagulopathy, hypothermia, acidosis, as well as platelet dysfunction, in addition to the direct effect of trauma itself. This important large international randomized placebo controlled study in blunt and penetrating trauma showed a significant reduction in blood transfusion requirement in patients with blunt trauma who received rFVIIa, and a trend towards reduction of transfusion in patients with penetrating trauma, as well as a trend towards reduction in mortality and critical complications in both groups. There was no difference in adverse events between rFVIIa and placebo groups. RFVIIa therefore seems to be a useful therapy in controlling severe hemorrhage associated with trauma.
– Maadh Aldouri