Transfusion medicine
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Transfusion medicine · Mar 1992
Practice Guideline GuidelineGuidelines for the use of fresh frozen plasma. British Committee for Standards in Haematology, Working Party of the Blood Transfusion Task Force.
Fresh frozen plasma should only be used to treat bleeding episodes or prepare patients for surgery in certain defined situations. Definite indications for the use of FFP: 1. Replacement of single coagulation factor deficiencies, where a specific or combined factor concentrate is unavailable. 2. ⋯ Plasma exchange procedures. 3. 'Formula' replacement. 4. Nutritional support. 5. Treatment of immunodeficiency states.
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Transfusion medicine · Mar 1992
Decreasing transfusion exposure risk during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a lifesaving therapy for neonatal pulmonary hypertension but carries a significant risk for transfusion-related complications. Packed red blood cell (PRBC) and platelet exposure were quantified and reviewed in 17 ECMO survivors prior (Group I, n = 9) and subsequent to (Group II, n = 8) changes in transfusion protocols. Blood product requirements included ECMO circuit priming, maintenance of haematocrit > 0.40 or platelet count > 50 x 10(9)/l, and colloid volume expansion. ⋯ No transfusion complications occurred during the aggregate 1,926 h on bypass. We conclude that neonates on ECMO have a significant transfusion exposure risk increasing with prolonged duration of ECMO therapy. In addition we noted that concentrated platelet packs decreased transfusion volume by 41%, and multiple PRBC transfusions from single donor units decreased donor exposure by 71% while both strategies decreased the overall transfusion exposure risk by 59%.