The treatment of bleeding is to stop the bleeding! Treatment of trauma-related hemorrhage

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The secret with any alternative to transfusion is to minimize the need for transfusion in the first place. This can be done by reducing the volume of blood loss. The volume of blood being lost can be reduced by direct methods where possible (i.e., hemostasis at the point of bleeding), or by improving the coagulation profile of the patient, thereby improving the extrinsic coagulation. Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) offers theoretical possibilities of improving the coagulation profile. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The efficacy and safety of rFVIIa for the treatment of bleeding in patients with severe blunt and penetrating trauma has been investigated in two double-blind, pl..