Recombinant activated Factor VII as a hemostatic agent in very low birth weight preterms with gastrointestinal hemorrhage and disseminated intravascular coagulation

OBJECTIVE: Acute hemorrhage in preterm infants leads immediately to a life-threatening event because of the small circulating blood volume. The beneficial use of recombinant activated Factor VII (rFVIIa; NovoSeven, NovoNordisk, Gentofte, Denmark) as hemostatic treatment in neonates with hemorrhagic shock has been described. Necrotizing enterocolitis is a challenge in neonatology as the disease represents one of the leading causes of mortality in preterm infants. We report on the use of rFVIIa in very low birth weight (<1500 g), preterms with intestinal hemorrhage, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of 5 cases. PATIENTS: Five preterm infants