Recombinant factor VIIa affects anastomotic patency of vascular grafts in a rabbit model

Objective Recombinant factor VIIa can decrease postoperative bleeding after cardiac surgery. However, the potential for recombinant factor VIIa to cause early vascular graft occlusion at the site of new vascular anastomoses has not been fully explored. We hypothesized that recombinant factor VIIa would cause a dose-dependent reduction in vascular graft patency in rabbits. Methods Reversed end-to-end interpositional vein grafts were sutured into the carotid artery of heparinized rabbits, and then recombinant factor VIIa (300 μg/kg, 90 μg/kg, or 20 μg/kg intravenously) or placebo was administered (n = 16/group). Graft patency was assessed at 24 hours using a vascular ultrasound probe. Factor VII activity levels were measured using a prothrombin time-based assay. In different rabbits, the patency of venous end-to-side anastomoses and simple carotid arterial repairs was assessed (recombinant factor VIIa, 300 μg/kg vs placebo, n = 8/group). Data were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test, t tests, or analysis of variance. Results Physiologic variables (activated clotting time, hemoglobin, pH, Pao2 ) and vessel diameter were not different between groups. Vein graft patency was reduced (93.8%, 81.2%, 13.8%, and 6.3%) as factor VII activity levels increased (1.8 ± 0.4, 4.4 ± 2.1, 11.8 ± 4.7, and 23.6 ± 16.9 U/mL, respectively) with increasing doses of recombinant factor VIIa administered (0, 20, 90, and 300 μg/kg, respectively, P