Recombinant coagulation factor VIIa--a novel haemostatic agent in scoliosis surgery?

Operative time in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery: a need for a standard definition

Our objective is to report and define 'operative time' in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) posterior spinal fusion surgeries. Documenting key times during surgery are important to compare operative risks, assess learning curves, and evaluate team efficiency in AIS surgery. 'Operative time' in literature has not been standardized. Systematic review was performed by two reviewers. Keywords included operative time, duration of surgery, and scoliosis. One thousand nine hundred six studies were identified, 1092 duplicates were removed and 670 abstracts were excluded. Of the 144 articles, 67 met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies were evaluated for number of patients, operative time, and definition of operative time. Meta-analysis was not performed due to confounders. Of the 67 studies (6678 patients), only 14 (1565 patients) defined operative time, and all specified as incision to closure. From these 14 studies, the median operative time was 248 minutes (range 174-448 minutes). In the 53 studies (5113 patients) without a definition, one study reported time in a non-comparable format, therefore, data were analyzed for 52 studies (5078 patients) with a median operative time of 252 minutes (wider range 139-523 minutes). A clear standardized definition of operative or surgical time in spine surgery does not exist. We believe that operative time should be clearly described for each published study for accurate documentation and be defined from incision time to spine dressing completion time in order to standardize study results. Level of evidence: IV.

High-volume, Multilevel Local Anesthetics-Epinephrine Infiltration in Kyphoscoliosis Surgery: Blood Conservation

INTRODUCTION

Scoliosis surgery is usually associated with severe bleeding. Various systemic strategies for blood conservation were applied, while the local techniques get less attention. The preemptive use of sufficient volume for proper tissue infiltration at two levels was applied. The local epinephrine may control bleeding without reliance upon deliberate hypotension, permitting a higher tissue perfusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study included 46 patients scheduled for posterior spinal fusion for scoliosis correction. Patients were randomized into two groups. group I received a cocktail of high volume (100 ml/each 10 cm of wound length) of local anesthetics and epinephrine tumescent infiltration at the subcutaneous (SC) followed by intramuscular level bilaterally. Group C received saline infiltration in the same technique. Statistically, data were analyzed according to its distribution using the t-test, Mann-Whitney, and Chi-square tests as appropriate.

RESULTS

There was a significant reduction in blood loss (38%), reduced blood and fluid transfusion (36% and 23%), and reduced operative time (23%), with higher surgeon satisfaction. The surgical field visibility (Fromme's scale) was much better during SC and muscular dissection in Group I, while it was fair during the bony work. The satisfactory field in spite of higher mean blood pressure in Group I greatly omitted the reliance upon deliberate hypotension.

CONCLUSION

The high-volume multilevel infiltration of epinephrine cocktail can provide a significant blood and operative time conservation in kyphoscoliosis surgery.

Reducing perioperative blood loss and allogeneic blood transfusion in patients undergoing major spine surgery

At present, individual techniques, including intraoperative acute normovolemic hemodilution, use of tranexamic acid, use of intrathecal morphine, proper positioning, and modification of operative techniques, seem most promising for reducing perioperative blood loss and allogeneic blood transfusion in patients undergoing major spine surgery. Other techniques including preoperative autologous predonation; mandatory discontinuation of use of antiplatelet agents; intraoperative and postoperative red-blood-cell salvage; use of aprotinin, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, recombinant factor VIIa, or desmopressin; induced hypotension; avoidance of hypothermia; and minimally invasive operative techniques require additional studies to either establish their effectiveness or address safety considerations.

Role of Amicar in surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective case-control study.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the effectiveness of Amicar in decreasing perioperative blood loss in patients with neuromuscular scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) and segmental spinal instrumentation (SSI).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Previously, a preliminary prospective; prospective randomized double-blind; same-day anterior and posterior spinal fusion; and fibrinogen studies have demonstrated Amicar to be effective in decreasing total perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in surgery for idiopathic scoliosis. Increased fibrinogen secretion is a possible explanation. We are now analyzing its effectiveness in neuromuscular scoliosis.

METHODS

Amicar was administered at 100 mg/kg over 15 minute not to exceed 5 g after anesthesia induction. Maintenance is 10 mg/kg/h until wound closure. There were 2 study groups: group 1 (n = 34), no Amicar and group 2 (n = 62) who received Amicar. The majority of patients in both groups had cerebral palsy. Total perioperative blood loss was determined from the estimated intraoperative blood loss and measured postoperative suction drainage. Total perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirements (cell saver and allogeneic) were compared using chi or Fisher exact test.

RESULTS

There was statistically less estimated intraoperative blood loss, total perioperative blood loss, and transfusion requirements in group 2. Postoperative suction drainage was also less but did not reach statistical significance. In group 1, estimated intraoperative blood loss, measured postoperative suction drainage, and total perioperative blood loss were 2194 +/- 1626 mL, 903 +/- 547 mL, and 3055 +/- 1852 mL, whereas in group 2, it was 1125 +/- 715 mL, 695 +/- 489 mL, and 1805 +/- 940 mL. Transfusion requirements were 1548 +/- 962 mL in group 1 but only 660 +/- 589 mL in group 2 (P < 0.0001). Amicar was equally effective in all diagnoses. There were no complications related to the use of Amicar.

CONCLUSION

Amicar was highly effective in decreasing perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients with neuromuscular scoliosis undergoing PSF and SSI. It was most effective in decreasing estimated intraoperative blood loss. This results in decreased transfusion requirements, costs, and potential transfusion-related complications.

Applicability and safety of recombinant activated factor VII to control non-haemophilic haemorrhage: investigational experience in 265 children

Experience of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa, NovoSeven; Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) to control haemorrhage in non-haemophilic children is limited. The object of this study was to examine the applicability and safety of rFVIIa amongst a group of non-haemophilic paediatric subjects. Details of all non-haemophilic children < or =16 years receiving rFVIIa whose data were recorded in the investigational, internet-based registry, haemostasis.com were analysed. A total of 265 children (mean age 7.7 years) were treated with rFVIIa; the median dose administered was 78.4 microg kg(-1) body weight (range 9.0-393.4) and the median total dose received 100.0 microg kg(-1) body weight (range 10.9-1341.2). Therapeutic areas included surgery (34.5%), coagulopathy (including thrombocytopenia; 29.0%), spontaneous bleeding (17.2%), trauma (8.4%) and intracranial haemorrhage (4.5%). Two patients experienced thromboembolic events following administration of rFVIIa. Thirty-nine patients died on account of haemorrhage or complications relating to their underlying condition; neither the thromboembolic events nor the deaths were related to rFVIIa administration. Bleeding stopped in 118/237 (49.8%), markedly decreased in 54/237 (22.8%), decreased in 51/237 (21.5%), remained unchanged in 13/237 (5.5%) and increased in 1/237 (0.4%) patients. These results suggest that rFVIIa is safe and widely applicable in children to control non-haemophilic haemorrhage.

Recombinant factor VIIa for intraoperative bleeding in a child with hepatoblastoma and review of recombinant activated factor VIIa use in children undergoing surgery

We report a case of a child with a large liver mass who underwent an open liver biopsy and had massive bleeding intraoperatively. Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) given intraoperatively was successful in stopping the bleeding. We also reviewed the literature on the use of rFVIIa in pediatric surgery.

Recombinant activated factor VII in spinal surgery: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation trial

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter, Phase IIa study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the safety and efficacy of recombinant-activated Factor VII (rFVIIa) in major spinal surgery.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND

Spinal fusion surgery can cause substantial blood loss and blood product transfusions. Recombinant FVIIa is approved for treatment of bleeding in patients with coagulation abnormalities and has been shown to reduce blood loss and transfusion requirements in surgery in patients with no underlying coagulopathy.

METHODS

Forty-nine patients undergoing fusion of 3 or more vertebral segments were randomized and treated on losing 10% of their estimated blood volume (with total expected surgical blood loss > or = 20%) and received 3 doses (2-hour intervals) of placebo (n = 13) or 30, 60, or 120 microg/kg rFVIIa (n = 12 per group). The primary endpoint was safety. A priori-defined efficacy endpoints included blood loss and transfusion requirements between placebo and each rFVIIa dose group, adjusted for surgery duration, number of segments fused, and estimated blood volume.

RESULTS

Serious adverse events did not occur at any greater frequency in any of the treatment groups. One patient (3 x 30 microg/kg rFVIIa) with advanced cerebrovascular disease (undiagnosed, trial exclusion criterion) died 6 days after surgery due to an ischemic stroke. Mean blood loss was as follows: 2270 mL for placebo; 1909, 1262, and 1868 mL for 3 x 30, 3 x 60, and 3 x 120 microg/kg rFVIIa, respectively (differences not statistically significant). Mean adjusted surgical blood loss was as follows: 2536 mL for placebo; 1120, 400, and 823 mL for 3 x 30, 3 x 60, and 3 x 120 microg/kg rFVIIa, respectively (P < or = 0.001). Mean surgical transfusion volume was reduced by 27% to 50% with rFVIIa treatment (not significant). The mean adjusted surgical transfusion volume was reduced by 81% to 95% with rFVIIa treatment (P < or = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

No safety concerns were indicated for the use of rFVIIa in patients at all doses tested; rFVIIa reduced adjusted blood loss and adjusted transfusions during spinal surgery.

Recombinant factor VIIa in paediatric bleeding disorders ? a 2006 review

Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) has been used in haemophilia bleeding since its introduction in 1996. It has been found to be safe and effective in the majority of patients with haemophilia who have developed inhibitors. There is increasing use of rFVIIa in many off-label bleeding conditions, but there is a paucity of randomized studies regarding the use of rFVIIa in children. This review will attempt to address and summarize the studies focusing on the role of rFVIIa in both haemophilia and non-haemophilia bleeding conditions in children. rFVIIa has been administered as both bolus and continuous infusions, and at varying doses. Furthermore, adverse events have not reportedly increased in children despite growing experience with its use in the paediatric population.