Early injection of high-dose recombinant factor VIIa decreases blood loss and prolongs time from injury to death in experimental liver injury.

Background: Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) is used for treatment of bleeding episodes in hemophilia patients who develop inhibitors to factors VIII and IX. We tested the hypothesis that administration of rFVIIa early after injury would decrease bleeding and prolong the time from injury to death after experimental hepatic trauma.

Methods: Anesthetized swine were cannulated for blood sampling and hemodynamic monitoring.