Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is considered a universal hemostatic agent. We present our experience with rFVIIa in vascular surgery patients who developed major hemorrhagic complications with no obvious major vessel bleeding as an expansion of the indications of rFVIIa. Of 973 major complex vascular procedures, 18 patients with intractable bleeding were administered 40 to 80 mug/kg rFVIIa. Blood and by-products transfused, pH, coagulation profile, platelet count, and preoperative antiplatelets and anticoagulants were recorded.Twelve patients (67%) showed clinical improvement. Six remained unstable despite further hemostatic measures and died perioperatively. Thirty-three percent (n = 6) received over 20 U of blood before rFVIIa administration. All but one died within the first 24 hours (p = .0175). Seven patients had acidosis with a pH of 7.3 or less. Five of them died within 24 hours (p = .05). Six patients had a platelet count below 100,000/cm3, five of whom died perioperatively (p = .0175). Patients with an international normalized ratio above 1.2 had a better survival rate because rFVIIa was used early. There were no signs of systemic or local thrombotic events. The amount of blood and plasma transfused was significantly reduced after rFVIIa administration.rFVIIa is a safe adjunct for patients with significant hemorrhagic complications, with a low risk of thrombotic complications. We found it effective if administered early with measures to achieve hemodynamic stability and correction of acidosis.
Poor rehabilitation rates and the high-cost of managing postamputation patients justify an aggressive revascularization policy in critical lower limb ischemia. Endovascular therapy is our first choice for limb salvage in these patients. However there are patients for whom endovascular therapy is not feasible. When bypass is necessary, autologous vein is a superior conduit to synthetic material. However, varicosities usually contraindicate autologous vein bypass because of the risk of aneurysm formation, rupture and increased intimal hyperplasia compared with nonvaricose venous grafts. We report the use of varicosed long saphenous vein (LSV) with external Dacron support in infrainguinal bypass procedures for limb salvage, where endovascular therapy was not feasible. The external Dacron tube was not brought close to the distal anastomotic area itself. With a mean follow-up of 18 months, duplex ultrasonography and computed tomography angiography showed no evidence of stenosis of the reinforced vein segments or aneurysmal degeneration of the residual vein. External reinforcement with Dacron prosthesis allows the use of autogenous greater saphenous veins with varicose dilatation without compromising graft patency and limb salvage.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.