Alcohol-related liver disease phenotype impacts survival after an acute variceal bleeding episode.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Alcohol-related hepatitis (AH) encompasses a high mortality. AH might be a concomitant event in patients with acute variceal bleeding (AVB). The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of AH in patients with AVB and to compare the clinical outcomes of AH patients to other alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) phenotypes and viral cirrhosis. METHODS: Multicentre, observational study including 916 patients with AVB falling under the next categories: AH (n = 99), ALD cirrhosis actively drinking (d-ALD) (n = 285), ALD cirrhosis abstinent from alcohol (a-ALD) (n = 227) and viral cirrhosis (n = 305). We used a Cox proportional hazards model to calculate adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of death adjusted by MELD. RESULTS: The prevalence of AH was 16% considering only ALD patients. AH patients exhibited more complications. Forty-two days transplant-free survival was worse among AH, but statistical differences were only observed between AH and d-ALD groups (84 vs. 93%; p = 0.005), when adjusted by MELD no differences were observed between AH and the other groups. At one-year, survival of AH patients (72.7%) was similar to the other groups; when adjusted by MELD mortality HR was better in AH compared to a-ALD (0.48; 0.29-0.8, p = 0.004). Finally, active drinkers who remained abstinent presented better survival, independently of having AH. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to expected, AH patients with AVB present no worse one-year survival than other patients with different alcohol-related phenotypes or viral cirrhosis. Abstinence influences long-term survival and could explain these counterintuitive results.

Análisis de la insuficiencia de órganos y mortalidad en la sepsis por peritonitis secundaria / Analysis of organ failure and mortality in sepsis due to secondary peritonitis

Objetivos Identificar los órganos más propensos a desarrollar el síndrome de insuficiencia multiorgánica (MODS) en pacientes con sepsis por peritonitis secundaria. Determinar el valor evolutivo y predictivo de mortalidad del sistema Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA).Diseño Estudio de cohorte observacional prospectivo. Ámbito La unidad de reanimación (UR) de nuestro centro, un hospital universitario de tercer nivel. Pacientes Estudio prospectivo y observacional sobre 102 pacientes con sepsis de origen abdominal e insuficiencia de al menos un órgano relacionado con la infección. Se registraron las características demográficas, el origen abdominal de la sepsis, la mortalidad a los 28 días y la puntuación SOFA diaria. Resultados La mortalidad a los 28 días fue del 55%. El 53% de los pacientes presentaron fracaso de 2 o más órganos en el primer día de estancia. La puntuación SOFA media diaria fue significativamente mayor en los pacientes fallecidos a partir del cuarto día de estancia. Las variables que se asociaron a una mayor mortalidad de manera estadísticamente significativa fueron: MODS (p=0,000), fallo sistema nervioso central (p=0,000) y puntuación SOFA al cuarto día de estancia (p=0,012). El área bajo la curva ROC expresó una capacidad predictiva de mortalidad el SOFA cuarto día de estancia del 0,703 (IC 95%, 0,538-0,853 y p=0,026. El mejor poder discriminativo se observó para el MODS con área bajo la curva ROC del 0,776 (IC 95%, 0,678-0,874 y p=0,000).Conclusiones La evolución en la insuficiencia de órganos determinada por medio de SOFA mostró una alta precisión siendo un buen predictor de mortalidad la puntuación SOFA media cuarto día de estancia. El MODS fue la principal causa de muerte y el fracaso del sistema nervioso central, función renal y sistema respiratorio los factores de riesgo de muerte (AU)

Objectives To identify the organs most susceptible to develop multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in patients with sepsis due to secondary peritonitis, and to determine the outcome and mortality predicting utility of the SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) system. Design A prospective, observational cohort study was made. Setting The resuscitation unit of a third-level university hospital. Patients A prospective, observational cohort study was made of 102 patients with sepsis of abdominal origin and failure of at least one organ related to the infection. The demographic characteristics were documented, along with the abdominal origin of sepsis, mortality after 28 days, and the daily SOFA score. Results The mortality rate after 28 days was 55%. A total of 53% of the patients presented failure of two or more organs on the first day of admission. The mean daily SOFA score was significantly higher among the patients that died after day 4 of admission. The variables showing a statistically significant correlation to increased mortality were: MODS (P=.000), central nervous system failure (P=.000) and SOFA score on day 4 of admission (P=.012). The area under the ROC curve showed the mortality predicting capacity of the SOFA score on day 4 of admission to be 0.703 (95%CI 0.538-0.853; P=.026). The maximum discriminating capacity was recorded for MODS, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.776 (95%CI 0.678-0.874; P=.000).Conclusions Organ failure outcome as predicted by the SOFA score showed high precision - the mean SOFA score on day 4 of admission being a good mortality predictor. MODS was the main cause of death, while central nervous system, renal and respiratory failure were identified as the mortality risk factors (AU)

The Spanish Pancreatic Club recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis: part 1 (diagnosis).

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a relatively uncommon, complex and heterogeneous disease. The absence of a gold standard applicable to the initial phases of CP makes its early diagnosis difficult. Some of its complications, particularly chronic pain, can be difficult to manage. There is much variability in the diagnosis and treatment of CP and its complications amongst centers and professionals. The Spanish Pancreatic Club has developed a consensus on the management of CP. Two coordinators chose a multidisciplinary panel of 24 experts on this disease. A list of questions was drafted, and two experts reviewed each question. Then, a draft was produced and shared with the entire panel of experts and discussed in a face-to-face meeting. This first part of the consensus addresses the diagnosis of CP and its complications.

The Spanish Pancreatic Club's recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis: part 2 (treatment).

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a complex disease with a wide range of clinical manifestations. This range comprises from asymptomatic patients to patients with disabling symptoms or complications. The management of CP is frequently different between geographic areas and even medical centers. This is due to the paucity of high quality studies and clinical practice guidelines regarding its diagnosis and treatment. The aim of the Spanish Pancreatic Club was to give current evidence-based recommendations for the management of CP. Two coordinators chose a multidisciplinary panel of 24 experts on this disease. These experts were selected according to clinical and research experience in CP. A list of questions was made and two experts reviewed each question. A draft was later produced and discussed with the entire panel of experts in a face-to-face meeting. The level of evidence was based on the ratings given by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. In the second part of the consensus, recommendations were given regarding the management of pain, pseudocysts, duodenal and biliary stenosis, pancreatic fistula and ascites, left portal hypertension, diabetes mellitus, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and nutritional support in CP.

[Analysis of organ failure and mortality in sepsis due to secondary peritonitis]. / Análisis de la insuficiencia de órganos y mortalidad en la sepsis por peritonitis secundaria.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the organs most susceptible to develop multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in patients with sepsis due to secondary peritonitis, and to determine the outcome and mortality predicting utility of the SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) system. DESIGN: A prospective, observational cohort study was made. SETTING: The resuscitation unit of a third-level university hospital. PATIENTS: A prospective, observational cohort study was made of 102 patients with sepsis of abdominal origin and failure of at least one organ related to the infection. The demographic characteristics were documented, along with the abdominal origin of sepsis, mortality after 28 days, and the daily SOFA score. RESULTS: The mortality rate after 28 days was 55%. A total of 53% of the patients presented failure of two or more organs on the first day of admission. The mean daily SOFA score was significantly higher among the patients that died after day 4 of admission. The variables showing a statistically significant correlation to increased mortality were: MODS (P=.000), central nervous system failure (P=.000) and SOFA score on day 4 of admission (P=.012). The area under the ROC curve showed the mortality predicting capacity of the SOFA score on day 4 of admission to be 0.703 (95%CI 0.538-0.853; P=.026). The maximum discriminating capacity was recorded for MODS, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.776 (95%CI 0.678-0.874; P=.000). CONCLUSIONS: Organ failure outcome as predicted by the SOFA score showed high precision - the mean SOFA score on day 4 of admission being a good mortality predictor. MODS was the main cause of death, while central nervous system, renal and respiratory failure were identified as the mortality risk factors.

Bioprocessing of plant in vitro systems for the mass production of pharmaceutically important metabolites: paclitaxel and its derivatives.

Taxol (paclitaxel) and its derivatives are microtubule-stabilizing drugs widely used in the treatment of several types of cancer, including mammary, prostate, ovarian and non-small-cell lung carcinoma, as well as AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma and other types of tumor. Taxanes stabilize microtubules by enhancing their polymerization and inhibiting depolymerization. Microtubule dynamics are crucial to mitotic spindle formation and function; therefore, cells exposed to taxanes are unable to undergo chromosomal separation during mitosis, become arrested in the G2/M phases of the cell cycle, and are subsequently targeted for apoptosis. Plant cell cultures are used for industrial-scale biotechnological production of important bioactive plant secondary metabolites, including the anticancer agent paclitaxel. In the last two decades, there have been numerous empirical approaches to improve the biotechnological production of taxanes, leading to the conclusion that treatment of Taxus sp. cells with methyl jasmonate or other elicitors is the most effective strategy. However, little insight has been gained into how the elicitors increase taxane biosynthesis or how this process is regulated. In recent years, with the help of "omics" tools, a rational approach has provided new information about taxane metabolism and its control. Once pathway bottlenecks have been identified, it will be possible to engineer Taxus sp. cell lines with overexpression of genes that control the flux-limiting steps, thus boosting taxane productivity. This review describes the chemical and biological characterization of paclitaxel and its derivatives and discusses future prospects for their biotechnological production.

The enigmatic life history of the symbiotic crab Tunicotheres moseri (Crustacea, Brachyura, Pinnotheridae): implications for its mating system and population structure.

Resource-monopolization theory predicts the adoption of a solitary habit in species using scarce, discrete, and small refuges. Life-history theory suggests that temporarily stable parental dwellings favor extended parental care in species that brood embryos. We tested these two predictions with the symbiotic crab Tunicotheres moseri. This species exhibits abbreviated development and inhabits the atrial chamber of the scarce, structurally simple, long-lived, and relatively small ascidian Phalusia nigra in the Caribbean. These host characteristics should favor a solitary habit and extended parental care (EPC) in T. moseri. As predicted, males and females of T. moseri inhabited ascidians solitarily with greater frequency than expected by chance alone. The male-female association pattern and reverse sexual dimorphism (males < females) additionally suggests a promiscuous "pure-search" mating system in T. moseri. Also in agreement with theoretical considerations, T. moseri displays EPC; in addition to embryos, females naturally retain larval stages, megalopae, and juveniles within their brooding pouches. This is the first record of EPC in a symbiotic crab and the second confirmed record of EPC in a marine brachyuran crab. This study supports predictions central to resource-monopolization and life-history theories.

Consideraciones preoperatorias y manejo neuroanestesiológico intraoperatorio / Preoperative considerations and intraoperative neuroanesthesiologic management

El manejo anestésico de los pacientes sometidos a procedimientos neuroquirúrgicos de fosa posterior presenta una serie de características particulares que deben ser conocidas por el anestesiólogo. Los cambios fisiopatológicos secundarios a la posición del paciente durante la cirugía, la relevancia del adecuado posicionamiento para facilitar el abordaje quirúrgico, la menor tolerancia a los cambios de elastancia de la región infratentorial, las escasas opciones terapéuticas ante un episodio de edema- hinchazón intraoperatorio y la presencia de complicaciones como la embolia aérea venosa condicionan la actuación intraoperatoria. Este primer apartado de las guías recoge las principales evidencias disponibles en la bibliografía respecto al abordaje preoperatorio e intraoperatorio de estos pacientes (AU)

The anesthesiological management of patients undergoing neurosurgery of the posterior fossa has a series of characteristics that should be known by anesthesiologists. Intraoperative management is guided by a series of factors that include the physiopathological changes secondary to the patient’s position during surgery, the importance of appropriate patient positioning to facilitate the surgical approach, the lower tolerance to changes in the elastance of the infratentorial region, the limited therapeutic options in episodes of intraoperative edema-swelling, and the presence of complications such as a venous air embolism. This first contribution to the guidelines discusses the main evidence available in the literature on the pre- and intraoperative approach to these patients (AU)

Consideraciones y conducta neuroanestesiológica postoperatoria / Postoperative neuroanesthesiologic considerations and management

La cirugía de fosa posterior y/o región craneorraquídea presenta una elevada tasa de morbimortalidad postoperatoria, escasamente descrita en la literatura científica. El propósito de esta revisión es describir las evidencias disponibles en la bibliografía respecto a las complicaciones asociadas y su manejo neuroanestesiológico y/o neurocrítico; así como resaltar los factores predisponentes que pueden influir en el incremento de la tasa de complicaciones.El conocimiento de las complicaciones relacionadas con la patología neuroquirúrgica de la fosa posterior, puede ayudar a su prevención o a la instauración de un tratamiento adecuado que permita minimizar sus consecuencias. Con este objetivo, en las diferentes bases de datos bibliográficos se realizó una búsqueda sistemática, en castellano e inglés, con los artículos comprendidos entre 1966 y 2012. Además se revisaron los manuscritos que se consideraron relevantes en las pesquisas bibliográficas identificadas. La emesis y el dolor postoperatorio son las complicaciones postoperatorias más frecuentemente descritas, seguida por el edema de la lengua y/o vía aérea, la afectación de pares craneales y la aparición de fístula de líquido cefalorraquídeo durante el postoperatorio. El resto de complicaciones fueron referidas como poco frecuentes. La cirugía de fosa posterior y craneorraquídea cervical posterior tiene mayor morbilidad y mortalidad que la cirugía del compartimento supratentorial. Además de las complicaciones de toda craneotomía, la cirugía infratentorial presenta complicaciones específicas. El trabajo en equipo entre todas las especialidades y estamentos implicados en la atención al paciente es fundamental para disminuir la morbimortalidad asociada a estos procedimientos (AU)

Surgery of the posterior fossa and/or craniospinal region has a high rate of postoperative morbidity and mortality, which has rarely been described in the scientific literature. This review aims to describe the available evidence in the literature on the complications associated with this type of surgery and its neuroanesthesiological and/or neurocritical management, as well as to highlight the predisposing factors that can increase the complications rate. Knowledge of the complications related to neurosurgical disorders of the posterior fossa could aid in their prevention or help in the selection of appropriate treatment that would minimize their consequences. A systematic literature search was made in Spanish and English for articles published between 1966 and 2012 in various databases. Articles considered important in the identified literature were reviewed. The most frequently described postoperative complications were vomiting and postoperative pain, followed by edema of the tongue and/or airway, involvement of the cranial nerves, and the development of cerebrospinal fluid fistulas. The remaining complications were reported as being uncommon. Posterior fossa and posterior cervical surgery produces higher morbidity and mortality than surgery of the supratentorial space. In addition to the complications involved in all craniotomies, infratentorial surgery has specific complications. Team work among all the specialties and staff involved in the care of these patients is essential to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these procedures (AU)

[Questionnaire on the anaesthesiology treatment of patients subjected to posterior fossa neurosurgery]. / Encuesta sobre el tratamiento anestesiológico de los pacientes sometidos a neurocirugía de fosa posterior.

OBJECTIVES: To find out, by means of a questionnaire, the procedures used by Spanish anaesthetists in peri-operative management of patients subjected to neurosurgery of the posterior cranial fossa. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A closed-question type questionnaire was sent to Anaesthesiology Departments with a Neurosurgery Department on the participation of anaesthetists in the peri-operative treatment of patients subjected posterior fossa surgery. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 42 (57.5%) of the 73 national public hospitals with a Neurosurgery Department. The posterior fossa surgery was performed in the sitting position in 36 hospitals, although it was less frequently used than the lateral decubitus or prone decubitus position. There was little specific neurological monitoring, as well as little use of precordial and/or transcranial Doppler for detecting vascular air embolism. Nitrous oxide was used in less than 10% of the centres, and 15% avoided neuromuscular block when neurophysiological monitoring was used during the surgery. Cardiovascular problems were mentioned as being the most frequent in 29% of the centres, while in the post-operative period the most common complications were, cranial nerve déficit, airway oedema (23%), and post-operative vomiting (47%). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from the questionnaire showed that the sitting position was less used than the prone position in posterior fossa surgery, and that neurophysiological monitoring is during surgery is hardly used.

Encuesta sobre el tratamiento anestesiológico de los pacientes sometidos a neurocirugía de fosa posterior / Questionnaire on the anaesthesiology treatment of patients subjected to posterior fossa neurosurgery

Objetivos: Conocer por medio de una encuesta la actuación de los anestesiólogos españoles en el manejo perioperatorio de los pacientes intervenidos neuroquirúrgicamente de enfermedades de fosa posterior del cráneo. Material y métodos: Se remitió a los servicios de anestesiología de hospitales con servicio de neurocirugía un cuestionario con un planteamiento cerrado sobre la participación de los anestesiólogos en el tratamiento perioperatorio de los pacientes sometidos a cirugía de fosa posterior. Resultados: De los 73 hospitales nacionales públicos que disponen de servicio de neurocirugía, completaron el formulario 42 (57,5%). En 36 centros se realiza la cirugía de fosa posterior con el paciente en sedestación, aunque se emplea con menor frecuencia que el decúbito lateral o el decúbito prono. La monitorización neurológica específica es escasa, así como el empleo del Doppler precordial y/o transcraneal para la detección de embolia vascular aérea. La técnica anestésica más empleada en estos procedimientos es la intravenosa. En menos del 10% de los centros se emplea óxido nitroso, y en un 15% se evitan los bloqueadores neuromusculares cuando se usa monitorización neurofisiológica intraoperatoria. Los problemas cardiovasculares durante la cirugía se refieren como muy frecuentes en el 29% de los centros, mientras que en el postoperatorio las complicaciones referidas como más habituales son los déficit de pares craneales, el edema de vía aérea (23%) y los vómitos postoperatorios (47%). Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos de la encuesta muestran que en las cirugías de fosa posterior la sedestación se utiliza menos que el decúbito prono y que apenas se usa monitorización neurofisiológica intraoperatoria(AU)

Objectives: To find out, by means of a questionnaire, the procedures used by Spanish anaesthetists in peri-operative management of patients subjected to neurosurgery of the posterior cranial fossa. Material and methods: A closed-question type questionnaire was sent to Anaesthesiology Departments with a Neurosurgery Department on the participation of anaesthetists in the peri-operative treatment of patients subjected posterior fossa surgery. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 42 (57.5%) of the 73 national public hospitals with a Neurosurgery Department. The posterior fossa surgery was performed in the sitting position in 36 hospitals, although it was less frequently used than the lateral decubitus or prone decubitus position. There was little specific neurological monitoring, as well as little use of precordial and/or transcranial Doppler for detecting vascular air embolism. Nitrous oxide was used in less than 10% of the centres, and 15% avoided neuromuscular block when neurophysiological monitoring was used during the surgery. Cardiovascular problems were mentioned as being the most frequent in 29% of the centres, while in the post-operative period the most common complications were, cranial nerve deficit, airway oedema (23%), and post-operative vomiting (47%). Conclusions: The results obtained from the questionnaire showed that the sitting position was less used than the prone position in posterior fossa surgery, and that neurophysiological monitoring is during surgery is hardly used(AU)

Anestesia general combinada con analgesia epidural para ureteroneocistostomía en un paciente con síndrome de Cornelia de Lange / General anaesthesia combined with epidural analgesia for ureteroneocystostomy in a patient with Cornelia de Lange syndrome

No disponible

[The role of recombinant activated factor VII in neuro- surgical and neurocritical patients]. / Rol del factor VII recombinante activado en pacientes neuroquirúrgicos y neu- rocríticos.

Central nervous system haemorrhage is a severe pathology, as a small amount of bleeding inside the brain can result in devastating consequences. Haemostatic agents might decrease the consequences of intra- cranial bleeding, whichever spontaneous, traumatic, or anticoagulation treatment etiology. Proacogulant recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) has been given after central nervous system bleeding, with an off-label indication. In this update, we go over the drug mechanism of action, its role in the treatment of central nervous system haemorrhage and the published evidences regarding this subject. We carried out a literature review concerning the treatment with rFVIIa in central nervous system haemorrhage, neurocritical pathologies and neurosurgical procedures, searching in MEDLINE and in clinical trials registry: http://clinicaltrials.gov (last review September 2010), as well as performing a manual analysis of collected articles, looking for aditional references. The results of randomized clinical trials do not support the systematic administration of rFVIIa for spontaneous intracranial cerebral haemorrhage. In other central nervous system related haemorrhages, the current available data consist on retrospective studies, expert opinion or isolated case reports.

The relationship between TXS, DBAT, BAPT and DBTNBT gene expression and taxane production during the development of Taxus baccata plantlets.

Taxol and related taxane accumulation in plants is regulated by the expression of genes involved in their biosynthesis. Although the metabolic pathway leading to taxol has been almost completely elucidated, comparatively little is known about the rate-limiting steps and their regulation. In this paper we report on a study of taxane production in Taxus baccata plantlets grown in vitro for 1 year. The relationship between taxane patterns and the expression of genes encoding the enzymes taxadiene synthase (TXS), 10-deacetylbaccatin III-10ß-O-acetyltransferase (DBAT), baccatin III 13-O-(3-amino-3-phenylpropanoyl) transferase (BAPT) and 3'-N-debenzoyl-2'-deoxytaxol-N-benzoyltransferase (DBTNBT), involved in early and late steps of the taxane pathway, has been considered. A far higher content was found in the aerial part of the plantlets than in the roots. The most abundant taxane in the aerial parts was 10-deacetylbaccatin III, which increased as the plantlets grew, indicating a low conversion to baccatin III and taxol. In contrast, the levels of 10-deacetylbaccatin III in the roots remained lower than those of taxol. These results correlated with transcript accumulation of the studied genes, since in the aerial parts the expression of DBAT, which codes for the enzyme that converts 10-deacetylbaccatin III into baccatin III, did not increase with the age of plantlets, unlike that of TXS, BAPT and DBTNBT, suggesting that this gene controls a rate-limiting step in the taxane biosynthetic pathway. The lower taxane levels found in the roots also correlated with gene expression, since only the early pathway gene TXS was induced in this organ during the 1-year growth period.

Rol del factor VII recombinante activado en pacientes neuroquirúrgicos y neu- rocríticos / The role of recombinant activated factor VII in neuro- surgical and neurocritical patients

La hemorragia del sistema nervioso central constituye una patología grave, ya que un volumen de sangrado relativamente pequeño en el cerebro puede presentar consecuencias devastadoras. La utilización de agentes hemostáticos pueden reducir las consecuencias de la hemorragia cerebral espontánea, traumática o secundaria a la anticoagulación. El Factor VII recombinante activado (rFVIIa) es un fármaco procoagulante que se ha empleado en diversas patologías hemorrágicas del sistema nervioso central, si bien esta indicación no se recoge en la ficha técnica del fármaco. En esta revisión se repasa el mecanismo de actuación del fármaco, su potencial en el tratamiento de la hemorragia del sistema nervioso central y las evidencias existentes al respecto. Se realizó una revisión de la bibliografía disponible sobre el uso de rFVIIa en el control de la hemorragia relacionada con el sistema nervioso central, la patolo- gía neurocrítica y procedimientos neuroquirúrgicos, mediante búsqueda en MEDLINE y en el registro de ensayos clínicos: http://clinicaltrials.gov (última revi- sión septiembre 2010), además de revisión manual de las publicaciones a partir de la bibliografía de los artí- culos recuperados. En la hemorragia cerebral espontánea, existen ensa- yos clínicos aleatorios, cuyos resultados desaconsejan la utilización sistemática del fármaco en esta indicación. En el resto de hemorragias relacionadas con el sistema nervioso central, los datos existentes se basan en estu- dios retrospectivos, opiniones de expertos o casos clíni- cos aislados (AU)

Central nervous system haemorrhage is a severe pathology, as a small amount of bleeding inside the brain can result in devastating consequences. Haemos- tatic agents might decrease the consequences of intra- cranial bleeding, whichever spontaneous, traumatic, or anticoagulation treatment etiology. Proacogulant recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) has been given after central nervous system bleeding, with an off-label indication. In this update, we go over the drug mechanism of action, its role in the treatment of central nervous system haemorrhage and the published eviden- ces regarding this subject. We carried out a literature review concerning the treatment with rFVIIa in central nervous system hae- morrhage, neurocritical pathologies and neurosurgical procedures, searching in MEDLINE and in clinical trials registry: http://clinicaltrials.gov (last review Sep- tember 2010), as well as performing a manual analysis of collected articles, looking for aditional references. The results of randomized clinical trials do not support the systematic administration of rFVIIa for spontaneous intracranial cerebral haemorrhage. In other central nervous system related haemorrhages, the current available data consist on retrospective studies, expert opinion or isolated case reports (AU)