Safety and efficacy of recombinant activated factor VII: a randomized placebo-controlled trial in the setting of bleeding after cardiac surgery.

Background: Blood loss is a common complication of cardiac surgery. Evidence suggests that recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) can decrease intractable bleeding in patients after cardiac surgery. Our objective was to investigate the safety and possible benefits of rFVIIa in patients who bleed after cardiac surgery.

Renal function of patients with a failing Fontan circuit undergoing total cavopulmonary revision surgery.

This report characterizes renal dysfunction after total cavopulmonary (TCPC) revision surgery for atriopulmonary Fontan (APF) circulations, a known risk factor for a poor outcome. The perioperative data for 23 consecutively identified patients were reviewed. The preoperative mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 101 +/- 30 ml/min/1.

Recombinant activated factor VII in cardiac surgery.

Adult cardiac surgery has an incidence of 1-1.25 million procedures per year. Overall costs are in the range of 50 billion US dollars per year and are increasing.

Mechanical methods of reducing blood transfusion in cardiac surgery: randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of two mechanical methods of blood conservation in reducing the need for allogeneic red blood cells or coagulation products during cardiac surgery.

Design: Randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Regional cardiac centre in a teaching hospital in Southampton.