Life-threatening mediastinal-retroperitoneal hemorrhage in a child with moderate hemophilia A and high inhibitor titer: successful management with recombinant activated factor VII

The authors describe an 11-year-old boy with hemophilia A and high titer inhibitor who developed a life-threatening mediastinal-retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Chest CT showed a large hematoma beginning in the retrotracheal area, filling the mediastinum, compressing the carina, and extending retroperitoneally up to the kidneys. As the surgical approach has a high mortality rate, the authors chose a more conservative approach initially and obtained excellent bleeding control with recombinant activated factor VII without the need for surgical intervention. As reported in other patients, the authors also showed a decrease in the factor III inhibitor while this patient was successfully treated with bypassing agents.