The use of recombinant activated factor VIIa in coagulopathic traumatic brain injuries requiring emergent craniotomy: is it beneficial?
Publication/Presentation Date
10-1-2009
Abstract
OBJECT: The role of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) has not been well established. This study evaluates the outcomes of using rFVIIa as first-line therapy in patients with a severe TBI requiring emergent craniotomy that are coagulopathic.
METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed patients admitted between 2003 and 2006 to a Level I trauma center with a severe TBI requiring an emergency craniotomy. Eighteen patients with coagulopathy that was corrected using rFVIIa were identified. Variables evaluated included age, injury severity score, head abbreviated injury score, Glasgow Coma Scale score, international normalized ratio, time to operation, operative procedure, thromboembolic events, and death.
RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 18 patients, predominantly male (55.6%) with a mean age of 80.5 years. The most common mechanism of injury was a fall. Coagulopathy was due to premorbid anticoagulants in 50% of the cohort. Time from admission to operation was 130 minutes. Coagulopathy reversal was complete in all 18 cases (100%). A high mortality rate (55.6%) was attributed to a high incidence of withdrawal of care (50%). The incidence of thromboembolic events was low (5.6%). Survivors, when compared with nonsurvivors, had a > 3-fold increase in postoperative Glasgow Coma Scale score for similar preoperative scores. A good functional outcome was achieved in 75% of survivors with a mean follow-up period of 4.2 months.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of rFVIIa in the correction of coagulopathy in patients having sustained severe TBI requiring emergency craniotomy appears to be safe and effective even among the elderly. This allows a shorter transit time to craniotomy. Its effects on mortality and long-term neurological outcome requires further investigation prospectively.
Volume
111
Issue
4
First Page
666
Last Page
671
ISSN
1933-0693
Published In/Presented At
McQuay, N., Jr, Cipolla, J., Franges, E. Z., & Thompson, G. E. (2009). The use of recombinant activated factor VIIa in coagulopathic traumatic brain injuries requiring emergent craniotomy: is it beneficial?. Journal of neurosurgery, 111(4), 666–671. https://doi.org/10.3171/2009.4.JNS081611
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
19425887
Department(s)
Patient Care Services / Nursing
Document Type
Article