Resolution of cardiac surgical bleeding with the combination of 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate and fresh frozen plasma following lack of response to fresh frozen plasma alone in a patient with severe factor XI deficiency

Factor XI deficiency is associated with a bleeding tendency in some patients. Factor XI helps to reduce fibrinolysis. Bleeding risk is increased in factor XI-deficient patients during surgeries with high fibrinolytic activity, including nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal and genitourinary surgeries. Treatment options for factor XI-deficient patients include fresh frozen plasma (FFP), antifibrinolytics, recombinant factor VIIa, and factor XI concentrates (available in Australia, Canada, and some European countries). 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4-factor PCC) is an extract of FFP comprised of unactivated factors II, VII, IX, and X, proteins C and S, and heparin. It has been used for cardiac surgical bleeding. We report the first case of a patient with severe factor XI deficiency and cardiac surgical bleeding, which resolved with the combination of 4-factor PCC and FFP after lack of response to FFP alone.