Coagulopathy after cardiopulmonary bypass in Jehovah's Witness patients: management of two cases using fractionated components and factor VIIa

Abstract

Background: Changes in the Jehovah's Witness (JW) blood refusal policy now give members the personal choice to accept certain processed fractions of blood, such as factor concentrates and cryoprecipitate.

Methods: Two JW patients undergoing complex aortic surgery who developed severe microvascular bleeding after prolonged use of cardiopulmonary bypass were treated with recombinant activated factor VII, cryoprecipitate, and antithrombin concentrate.

Results: Cardiopulmonary bypass-induced coagulopathy was successfully treated, allowing chest closure without evidence of thrombotic complications.

Conclusions: Processed blood fractions can be a valuable adjuvant to drugs when treating bleeding in JW patients.