• Philip E F Roman, Adam D DeVore, and Ian J Welsby.
• aDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland bDepartment of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham cDivision of Cardiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
• Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2014 Feb 1;27(1):57-64.

Purpose Of ReviewTherapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a useful adjunct in the management of antibody-mediated disorders. The indications for TPE now include the perioperative setting. This review updates the anesthesiologist on the relevant clinical indications and precautions of plasma exchange.Recent FindingsAlthough still considered experimental, TPE for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia for urgent cardiac surgery is the most promising recent advance.SummaryPlasmapheresis, or TPE, removes monoclonal antibodies, immune complexes and paraproteins. The utility of TPE in the perioperative period has recently become more apparent. Antibody-mediated disorders are associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality and are treated with TPE. Indications for TPE for cardiac surgery include heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura and antiphospholipid syndrome. Other indications for perioperative TPE are typically related to immunomodulation during solid-organ transplant. Immunomodulation, primarily with immunosuppressive medications and TPE, of a previously allosensitized recipient pretransplant increases the likelihood of a successful match. TPE is also useful in the management of intentional and inadvertent ABO incompatible recipients and is essential in the treatment of hyperacute rejection. TPE will likely be more utilized in the future and understanding the essentials of the procedure will facilitate the perioperative management of antibody-mediated disorders.

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