Patient with congenital factor VII deficiency undergoing brain tumor neurosurgery successfully treated with recombinant factor VIIa and fresh frozen plasma: A case report and literature review

Rationale: Congenital factor VII deficiency is the most common among rare bleeding disorders, characterized by spontaneous or traumatic bleeding. The clinical manifestation is heterogeneous, ranging from asymptomatic phenotype to life-threatening hemorrhages. Intracranial hemorrhage is a common complication of brain tumor neurosurgery, which significantly challenges the perioperative management of patients with hemostatic defects. Patient concerns: This report presented a 55-year-old man with congenital factor VII deficiency, who had no history of hemorrhage or family history. He underwent a craniotomy for the treatment of papillary craniopharyngioma. Diagnoses: The patient was diagnosed as papillary craniopharyngioma, factor VII deficiency, and atrial fibrillation. Interventions: To prevent bleeding, a total of 8 doses of recombinant activated factor VII and 1 dose of fresh frozen plasma were administered as the perioperative replacement therapy. This scheme was guided by a pharmacodynamic evaluation, laboratory tests, and imaging examinations. Outcomes: No excessive surgical bleeding was observed during the 22-day treatment. The patient was found to have compound heterozygous mutations, Ala304Thr (c.910G > A) and IVS5-2A > G (c.572-2A > G), in the F7 gene. Lessons: This is the first reported case in which surgical hemorrhage secondary to brain tumor resection was successfully controlled in the presence of congenital factor VII deficiency. Perioperative coagulation state, hemostasis, and thrombosis events should be closely observed, and the interval and dosage of recombinant factor VIIa should be adjusted accordingly.