The Use of Recombinant Coagulation Factor VIIa (NovoSeven®) in Severe Diverticular Bleeding

We report a 68-year-old man with sigmoid colon carcinoma who previously underwent an anterior resection. Five years later, he developed a severe diverticular bleeding which required multiple blood transfusions. He underwent an emergent low anterior colectomy with a right colostomy to protect the anastomosis. Nine days after the operation, he had another severe bleeding. Due to his elderly age and two previous colectomies, recombinant coagulation factor VIIa (rFVIIa) was given to avoid re-operation. The bleeding stopped after two doses of rFVIIa, 80 g/kg followed by 40 g/kg one hour later. There was no bleeding recurrence.