This article is part of the supplement: Recombinant activated factor VIIa and hemostasis in critical care: a focus on trauma .

Review

Recombinant activated factor VIIa and hemostasis in critical care: a focus on trauma

Alicia M Mohr¹ , John B Holcomb², Richard P Dutton³ and Jacques Duranteau⁴

¹Assistant Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA

²COL, MC, US Army, Chief, Trauma Division, Trauma Consultant for The Surgeon General Commander, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, USA

³Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

⁴Professor, Departement d'Anesthesie-Reanimation, Hopital de Bicetre, Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2005, 9(Suppl 5):S37-S42doi:10.1186/cc3784

Published:	7 October 2005

Abstract

In this article we describe the current use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa; NovoSeven^®) in trauma patients. Emphasis is placed on current uses as defined by key studies, efficacy data, and safety data. Most published studies in trauma patients are retrospective case studies and reports, although an international, double-blind, randomized, controlled, phase II study has been conducted that reported on the efficacy of rFVIIa in reducing the amount of blood products transfused in blunt trauma patients. That study demonstrated the efficacy and safety profile of this hemostatic agent as compared with placebo as adjunctive therapy in the management of severe bleeding associated with trauma. Further prospective, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical trials will yield more information on the role of rFVIIa in the management of traumatic bleeding.