Open AccessRecombinant activated factor VII in post partum haemorrhage
Author(s) -
Navneet Magon,
KM Babu,
Kanika Kapur,
Sanjiv Chopra,
Gurdarshan Singh Joneja
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
nigerian medical journal/nigerian medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2229-774X
pISSN - 0300-1652
DOI - 10.4103/0300-1652.122328
Subject(s) - medicine , post partum , hysterectomy , surgery , postpartum haemorrhage , complication , hemodynamics , blood loss , blood product , anesthesia , pregnancy , genetics , biology
Post-partum haemorrhage (PPH) is a life-threatening obstetric complication and the leading cause of maternal death. Any bleeding that results in or could result in haemodynamic instability, if untreated, must be considered as PPH. There is no controversy about the need for prevention and treatment of PPH. The keystone of management of PPH entails first, non-invasive and nonsurgical methods and then invasive and surgical methods. However, mortality remains high. Therefore, new advancements in the treatment are most crucial. One such advancement has been the use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in PPH. First used 12 years back in PPH, this universal haemostatic agent has been effectively used in controlling PPH. The best available indicator of rFVIIa efficacy is the arrest of haemorrhage, which is judged by visual evidence and haemodynamic stabilization. It also reduces costs of therapy and the use of blood components in massive PPH. In cases of intractable PPH with no other obvious indications for hysterectomy, administration of rFVIIa should be considered before surgery. We share our experience in a series of cases of PPH, successfully managed using rFVIIa.