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Tanhehco YC, Alsammak M, Chhibber V, Ibeh N, Li Y, Stephens LD, Noland DK, Wu DW, Zantek ND, DeChristopher PJ, Martin MCS, Lu W, Wehrli G. Apheresis practice variation during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of a survey. J Clin Apher 2024; 39:e22109. [PMID: 38634419 DOI: 10.1002/jca.22109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic affected healthcare delivery across all specialties including apheresis. To describe the changes in apheresis service practices that occurred during the pandemic, the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) Apheresis Medicine Attending Physician Subcommittee conducted a survey study. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS A 32-question survey was designed and distributed to 400 ASFA physician members on September 7, 2022. Attending physicians responded to questions about whether and how apheresis service practices changed during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the time period prior to the pandemic in terms of: (1) procedure types and volumes, (2) patient consultation workflow, and (3) the use of telemedicine. Descriptive analyses were reported as number and frequency of responses. RESULTS The survey response rate was 13.8% (55/400). Of these respondents, 96.4% (53/55) were attending physicians. The majority of respondents (42/53, 79.2%) indicated that the types of procedures performed during COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic did not change. Most frequently for apheresis procedure volume, respondents reported: no change in their monthly inpatient volume (21/47, 44.7%) and a decrease in their monthly outpatient volume (28/46, 60.9%). Prior to COVID-19, 75.0% (30/40) of respondents performed consultations at bedside for inpatients and 67.4% (29/43) performed consultations at bedside for outpatients. Bedside consultations decreased in both settings during the pandemic but were still most frequently performed by attending physicians. At the same time, the use of telemedicine increased for 15.4% of survey respondents during COVID-19. CONCLUSION Some, but not all, respondents observed or made changes to their apheresis service during the COVID-19 pandemic. A subset of changes, such as increased utilization of telemedicine, may persist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette C Tanhehco
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mohamed Alsammak
- Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Vishesh Chhibber
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Nnaemeka Ibeh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Health Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yanhua Li
- Transfusion Medicine, UMass Memorial Health and Departments of Medicine and Pathology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Laura D Stephens
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Daniel K Noland
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern and Children's Health Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Ding Wen Wu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratories, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nicole D Zantek
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Phillip J DeChristopher
- Loyola University Health System, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Wen Lu
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gay Wehrli
- University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, Ashland, Ohio, USA
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Treml A, Joshi SA, Stephens LD, Zantek ND, Tanhehco YC, Mason HM, Li Y, Srivaths P, Mattiazzi AD, Schwartz J, Wehrli G. Apheresis medicine education during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Transfusion 2023; 63:1580-1589. [PMID: 37421258 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic introduced challenges and disruption across healthcare, including apheresis medicine (AM). In this study, we report findings from a survey conducted among American Society for Apheresis Physician Committee (ASFA-PC) members to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on AM education practices. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS A voluntary, anonymous, 24-question, institutional review board-approved survey regarding AM teaching during the pandemic was distributed to ASFA-PC members in the United States between December 1, 2020, and December 15, 2020. Descriptive analyses were reported as number and frequency of respondents for each question. Free text responses were summarized. RESULTS Responses were received from 14/31 (45%) of ASFA-PC members, of whom 12 practiced at academic institutions. Among these, 11/12 (92%) transitioned to virtual platform for AM trainee conferences during the pandemic. A variety of resources were employed to support independent AM learning. While 7/12 (58%) respondents did not change the informed consent process for AM procedures, others delegated this process or introduced remote alternatives. The most common method respondents used to conduct AM patient rounding was a hybrid in-person/virtual model. CONCLUSION This survey describes the adaptations and changes AM practitioners made to trainee education in response to the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The transition to virtual and/or hybrid trainee learning and AM rounds underscores the importance of digital AM resources. Further study of the effects of the pandemic and its impact on AM trainee education, as well as patient care is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Treml
- Versiti WI, Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - Laura Dilly Stephens
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Nicole D Zantek
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Yvette C Tanhehco
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Holli M Mason
- Department of Pathology, Harbor-UCLA and Olive View-UCLA Medical Centers, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yanhua Li
- Department of Medicine and Department of Pathology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Poyyapakkam Srivaths
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Adela D Mattiazzi
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension and Miami Transplant Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Joseph Schwartz
- Department of Pathology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Gay Wehrli
- University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center, Ashland OH and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Tonev DG, Momchilova AB. Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Certain Immune-Mediated Neurological Disorders: Focus on a Novel Nanomembrane-Based Technology. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020328. [PMID: 36830870 PMCID: PMC9953422 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an efficient extracorporeal blood purification technique to remove circulating autoantibodies and other pathogenic substances. Its mechanism of action in immune-mediated neurological disorders includes immediate intravascular reduction of autoantibody concentration, pulsed induction of antibody redistribution, and subsequent immunomodulatory changes. Conventional TPE with 1 to 1.5 total plasma volume (TPV) exchange is a well-established treatment in Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder, Myasthenia Gravis and Multiple Sclerosis. There is insufficient evidence for the efficacy of so-called low volume plasma exchange (LVPE) (<1 TPV exchange) implemented either by the conventional or by a novel nanomembrane-based TPE in these neurological conditions, including their impact on conductivity and neuroregenerative recovery. In this narrative review, we focus on the role of nanomembrane-based technology as an alternative LVPE treatment option in these neurological conditions. Nanomembrane-based technology is a promising type of TPE, which seems to share the basic advantages of the conventional one, but probably with fewer adverse effects. It could play a valuable role in patient management by ameliorating neurological symptoms, improving disability, and reducing oxidative stress in a cost-effective way. Further research is needed to identify which patients benefit most from this novel TPE technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitar G. Tonev
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Medical University of Sofia, University Hospital “Tzaritza Yoanna—ISUL”, 1527 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Correspondence:
| | - Albena B. Momchilova
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Science, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Castillo-Aleman YM, Ann-Martinez M, Victorino-Roque JMR, Othman J, Ventura-Carmenate Y. Tele-ECP: A feasible telemedicine-based approach to extracorporeal photopheresis. J Telemed Telecare 2022:1357633X221122865. [PMID: 36046942 DOI: 10.1177/1357633x221122865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The acquisition of telecommunication technologies in clinical practices is transforming medical care capabilities, whereas applying telemedicine in apheresis medicine has resulted in the revolutionary concept of "telapheresis." This manuscript aims to describe the regulatory landscape of telapheresis by presenting the first "tele-ECP" (telemedicine-based approach to extracorporeal photopheresis) reported in the United Arab Emirates. The tele-ECP procedure was done successfully in a patient with chronic graft-versus-host disease, who, despite having one vascular access-related adverse event, it was solved promptly without further complications. Therefore, this telemedicine-based approach arose as a feasible practice, but required direct physical contact with other trained and privileged/credentialed staff.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - May Ann-Martinez
- Department of Immunology, 580443Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Jekhsi Othman
- Department of Immunology, 580443Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Yendry Ventura-Carmenate
- Department of Immunology, 580443Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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