Recombinant factor VIIa in massive postpartum haemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage in a Jehovah's Witness patient controlled with Tisseel, tranexamic acid, and recombinant factor VIIa

BACKGROUND

The management of a patient refusing blood transfusion who subsequently experiences a severe postpartum hemorrhage is a particular clinical challenge.

CASE

A 30-year-old nulliparous patient (who was a Jehovah's Witness) had labour induced for post-dates at 41+4 weeks' gestational age after an uncomplicated pregnancy. She delivered by Caesarean section for dystocia and suspected chorioamnionitis, and subsequently developed postpartum hemorrhage that required management with oxytocin, ergometrine, carboprost, uterine artery ligation, and Hayman compression sutures. The patient ultimately required two additional visits to the operating room, culminating in hysterectomy. Use of tranexamic acid, recombinant factor VIIa, and Tisseel was instrumental in halting the ongoing hemorrhage.

CONCLUSION

Optimal management of a patient refusing administration of blood products requires a multidisciplinary approach as well as a combination of traditional and novel therapies.

Use of clotting factors and other prohemostatic drugs for obstetric hemorrhage

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To guide the optimal use of blood products and to clarify the indications for prohemostatic drugs in obstetric hemorrhage.

RECENT FINDINGS

The literature emphasizes the usefulness of transfusing packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma and platelets earlier and in defined ratios to prevent dilutional coagulopathy during obstetric hemorrhage. The value of fibrinogen concentrate and prohemostatic drugs such as tranexamic acid and recombinant factor VIIa is also pointed out.

SUMMARY

It seems reasonable to use blood products for transfusion earlier and in a 1: 1 fresh frozen plasma: red blood cell ratio during acute obstetric hemorrhage; however, this analysis is mainly based on trauma literature. Fibrinogen concentrate should be added if the fibrinogen plasma level remains below 1.0 g l(-1) and perhaps even as soon as it falls below 1.5-2.0 g l(-1); the addition of tranexamic acid (1 g) is cheap, likely to be useful and appears safe. Data on the proactive administration of platelets are insufficient to recommend this practice routinely. Presently, recombinant factor VIIa (60-90 microg kg(-1)) is advocated only after failure of other conventional therapies, including embolization or conservative surgery, but prior to obstetric hysterectomy. Prospective randomized controlled trials are highly desirable.

Blood product replacement for postpartum hemorrhage

Hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion is a common occurrence in obstetrics. This article reviews each step in the transfusion process, including laboratory preparation of blood, indications for various blood components, complications of blood transfusion, massive transfusion, and alternatives to homologous blood. Current thinking regarding transfusion-related acute lung injury, transfusion-related immunomodulation, early use of plasma for massive transfusion, and the use of adjuvant agents such as activated recombinant factor VII are also discussed.

[Coagulation management in the treatment of multiple trauma]

In recent years a new understanding of trauma-associated hemorrhaging and trauma-induced coagulopathy has been achieved. This coagulopathy is multifactorial with the predominant mechanisms being tissue trauma, shock and hypoperfusion which can lead to hyperfibrinolysis by activation of the endothelium. Routinely tested coagulation parameters, such as prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time, are frequently employed for decision making but remain problematic as they do not give any information on clot stability, lysis or platelet function. Thrombelastometry seems to be a useful alternative. A pro-active anticipatory approach is required for a successful outcome to be achieved as rescue correction is more difficult than prevention. While the pathophysiological conception of causal relationship of the mentioned therapeutic options is conclusive, an evidence-based validation by randomized controlled studies is mostly lacking. The emergency and anesthesiological concept of damage control resuscitation consists of limiting volume therapy with crystalloids and colloids to reach a mean arterial pressure > or =65 mmHg (higher for head injuries), active (re-)warming management, the prevention of a pH< or =7.2 and a base excess (BE) < or =-6 mmol/l. The early and sufficient application of hemostatic drugs is essential. Because erythrocytes play a substantial role in the coagulation process, hemoglobin (Hb) values of around 6. 2 mmol/l (10 g/dl) and/or a hematocrit of 30% should be strived for when massive non-arrested hemorrhaging occurs. After severe multiple trauma a fibrinogen deficit develops and must be adequately compensated. If coagulation therapy is carried out using fresh frozen plasma sufficient quantities (20-30 ml/kgBW) must be administered to correspondingly raise the coagulation factors. Prothrombin complex concentrates can be helpful to optimize thrombin generation during severe hemorrhaging. Because hyperfibrinolysis occurs more often than previously assumed during severe trauma, an anti-fibrinolytic therapy should be used especially for patients with an instable circulation. The platelet count should not go below 100,000/microl when hemorrhaging occurs after multiple trauma. For thrombocytopathic patients with diffuse bleeding desmopressin (DDAVP) is a therapeutic option and the "off label" use of recombinant activated factor VIIa (rFVIIa) remains an option for individual situations with stringent indications and when the above named measures to optimize the coagulation situation have been taken.

[Obstetric bleeding: an update]

Massive bleeding in obstetrics still ranks among the most frequent causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The most frequent type is primary postpartum hemorrhage, which is usually the result of an atonic uterus. The clinical priorities are to assure hemodynamic stability and to correct coagulation abnormalities. If pharmacologic treatment cannot achieve these goals, invasive methods such as interventional vascular radiology or artery ligation must be used. Hysterectomy is the last resort when the previous methods fail. For the best prognosis, in terms of preventing death, maintaining maternal fertility and minimizing morbidity, every maternity ward should have a well-defined multidisciplinary protocol that facilitates diagnosis and immediate treatment.

Successful management by recombinant activated factor VII in a case of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy caused by obstetric hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a life-threatening emergency in obstetrics. Although recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) has become used for the treatment of some cases of massive hemorrhage, its applications in the field of obstetrics are still limited. We describe a case of successful treatment with rFVIIa for PPH due to placenta accreta. The patient was a 33-year-old woman with placental previa. Cesarean section (CS) was performed at gestational week 35. During CS, there was massive hemorrhage due to placenta accreta. After CS, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and hypovolemic shock were diagnosed. The PPH was not controlled by transfusion therapy. On the fourth day after CS, rFVIIa (90 microg/kg x 2) was given because of the persistent PPH. Bleeding decreased and no further transfusion was required from 2 days after administration. rFVIIa was useful in the treatment of this case of obstetric hemorrhage.

Successful placement of a right ventricular assist device for treatment of a presumed amniotic fluid embolism

Amniotic fluid embolism is a rare and often fatal complication of pregnancy. We report the successful multidisciplinary management of a woman who developed a coagulopathy from a presumed amniotic fluid embolism after forceps-assisted vaginal delivery requiring recombinant factor VIIa, and pulmonary arterial hypertension requiring a right ventricular assist device.

Blood component therapy in obstetrics

Hemorrhage is the leading cause of intensive care unit admission and one of the leading causes of death in the obstetric population. This emphasizes the importance of a working knowledge of the indications for and complications associated with blood product replacement in obstetric practice. This article provides current information regarding preparation for and administration of blood products, discusses alternatives to banked blood in the obstetric population, and introduces pharmacological strategies for treatment of hemorrhage.

Blutungen während der Schwangerschaft

Hemorrhaging during pregnancy is often fulminant and life-threatening for mother and child. Of maternal deaths occurring during pregnancy, 25% are caused by hemorrhaging. All physicians involved in the interdisciplinary treatment of hemorrhaging during pregnancy need to be familiar with the specific pathophysiology of hemostatic changes during pregnancy, e.g. elevated hemostatic capacity, reduced anti-coagulation activity and severe alterations of the fibrinolysis system. Therapists must be able to perform a consequent, goal-directed interdisciplinary approach to prevent adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The major issues of therapy are causal obstetric treatment of the bleeding, early detection and therapy of hyperfibrinolysis, optimization of fibrinogen and platelet levels and knowledge of the possibilities of a targeted coagulation therapy.