Transfusion
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General use of plasma components includes replacement for multiple coagulation factor deficiencies, for treatment of single coagulation factor deficiencies for which a concentrate is unavailable, and as a replacement fluid used in therapeutic plasma exchange for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Four major products currently transfused are fresh-frozen plasma (FFP), plasma frozen within 24 hours of phlebotomy (FP24), cryoprecipitate-poor plasma (CPP), and thawed plasma. ⋯ Pathogen-reduced plasma may contain reduced levels of certain coagulant and/or anticoagulant factors compared to FFP. Clinical findings with pathogen-reduced plasma have provided an impetus to the US Food and Drug Administration to promulgate specific requirements for approval of novel plasma products, some of which may be too burdensome for the industry to readily overcome.
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Antiplatelet agents (APAs) are commonly used in clinical practice to either treat or prevent arterial thrombotic disorders in patients at high risk. The newer APAs are more potent with higher bleeding risk profiles. ⋯ Currently, there are no guidelines for management of such patients. This article describes my approach to PLT transfusion or use of pharmacologic agents in such clinical scenarios based solely on personal experience and very limited published data.
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Obstetric services depend on the transfusion service (TS) to provide diagnostic testing and blood component therapy for clinical care pathways. ⋯ QI initiatives for RhIG prophylaxis, diagnostic blood test ordering, and MTP improve TS support of obstetric services.
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Obstetric hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. Intraoperative blood salvage is common practice in many surgical specialties but its safety in obstetrics is questioned for concerns on the risks of contamination of recovered blood with amniotic fluid (AF) and of maternal-fetal alloimmunization. However, the role of cell salvage as a blood-saving measure in obstetrics is progressively acquiring relevance thanks to the growing body of evidence regarding its quality and safety coming from over 800 documented procedures and more than 400 patients transfused with saved blood. ⋯ The contamination of the SB by fetal Rh-mismatched red blood cells (RBCs) can be dealt with using RhIG; ABO incompatibility tends to be a minor problem since ABO antigens are not fully developed at birth. Antibodies can be formed against other fetal RBC antigens, but it should also be noted that the risk of alloimmunization of the mother from allogeneic transfusion is probably even greater. Therefore, intraoperative cell salvage in obstetrics should be considered in patients at high risk for hemorrhage or in cases where allogeneic blood transfusion is difficult or impossible.