Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Reduces Blood Product Utilization in Heart Transplantation

Trends in the Use of Recombinant Activated Factor VII and Prothrombin Complex Concentrate in Heart Transplant Patients in Virginia

OBJECTIVES

To explore trends in intraoperative procoagulant factor concentrate use in patients undergoing heart transplantation (HTx) in Virginia. Secondarily, to evaluate their association with postoperative thrombosis.

DESIGN

Patients who underwent HTx were identified using a statewide database. Trends in off-label recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) use and on-label and off-label prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) use were tested using the Mantel-Haenszel test. Multivariate logistic regression was used to test for an association between procoagulant factor concentrate administration and thrombosis.

SETTING

Virginia hospitals performing HTx.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults undergoing HTx between 2012 and 2022.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Among 899 patients who required HTx, 100 (11.1%) received off-label rFVIIa, 69 (7.7%) received on-label PCC, and 80 (8.9%) received off-label PCC. There was a downward trend in the use of rFVIIa over the 10-year period (p = 0.04). There was no trend in on-label PCC use (p = 0.12); however, there was an increase in off-label PCC use (p < 0.001). Patients who received rFVIIa were transfused more and had longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (p < 0.001). Receipt of rFVIIa was associated with increased thrombotic risk (odds ratio [OR] 1.92; 95% CI 1.12-3.29; p = 0.02), whereas on-label and off-label PCC use had no association with thrombosis (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.49-1.96, p = 0.96 for on-label use; and OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.29-1.30, p = 0.20 for off-label use).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of rFVIIa in HTx decreased over the past decade, whereas off-label PCC use increased. Receipt of rFVIIa was associated with thrombosis; however, patients who received rFVIIa were more severely ill, and risk adjustment may have been incomplete.

Application of fresh frozen plasma transfusion in the management of excessive warfarin-associated anticoagulation

Warfarin is a commonly used oral anticoagulant. Patients with artificial valve replacement, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, and other diseases require long-term anticoagulant oral treatment with warfarin. As warfarin exhibits prompt action with long maintenance time, it has become a key drug for the treatment of patients at risk of developing thrombosis or thromboembolism. Warfarin is a bican coumarin anticoagulant, that exhibits competitive action against vitamin K as its mechanism of action, thereby inhibiting the synthesis of coagulation factors—predominantly the vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors II, VII, IX, and X—in hepatocytes. Long-term warfarin is known to significantly increase the risk of organ bleeding in some patients, while some patients may need to reverse the anticoagulation effect. For instance, patients scheduled for emergency or invasive surgery may require rapid anticoagulation reversal. During such medical circumstances, fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is clinically used for the reversal of excess warfarin-associated anticoagulation, as it contains all the coagulation factors that can alleviate the abnormal blood anticoagulation status in such patients. Accordingly, this article aims to perform an in-depth review of relevant literature on the reversal of warfarin with FFP, and insightful deliberation of the application and efficacy of this clinical intervention.

Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for Warfarin Reversal in Patients with Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A Narrative Review

Durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients require long-term anticoagulation to prevent thromboembolic complications. Their management is complicated by the risk of bleeding, which may require rapid anticoagulation reversal. We conducted a narrative review of data published from January 2007 to September 2018, analyzing anticoagulation reversal strategies in patients with durable, continuous-flow LVADs. The aim of this review is to provide guidance for reversal strategies in patients with LVADs experiencing bleeding complications or needing urgent surgical procedures, incorporating four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC). Most data were from small, retrospective studies. Data for 4F-PCC use were more robust for heart transplant than for other surgical procedures or bleeding management. In patients undergoing heart transplant, 4F-PCC reversed warfarin more rapidly and reduced total blood product use versus other reversal strategies. Most surgical procedures were conducted without excess bleeding when utilizing 4F-PCCs. Time to warfarin reversal was shorter when managing intracranial hemorrhage with 4F-PCC. No differences in thromboembolic rates between 4F-PCC and control groups were observed. Overall, the use of 4F-PCC resulted in more rapid and predictable warfarin reversal in LVAD patients with no apparent risk of thromboembolism. Well-designed, larger prospective trials are required to better define 4F-PCC use in patients with LVADs.

Effect of Blood Product Transfusion on Perioperative Outcomes After Heart Transplantation

OBJECTIVE(S)

The objective of this study was to identify transfusion-related in-hospital outcomes in orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) recipients.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary care hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult OHT recipients undergoing transplantation between January 2010 and December 2016.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary composite outcome was occurrence of any of the following events during admission for OHT: (1) graft dysfunction requiring mechanical circulatory support (MCS); (2) respiratory failure requiring tracheostomy; (3) renal failure requiring hemodialysis; (4) 30-day mortality; (5) complication requiring readmission to intensive care unit; (6) sepsis; and (7) stroke. The authors evaluated these outcomes in relation to all blood component transfusions received intraoperatively and in the first 24 hours postoperatively. The study included 197 patients and the primary composite outcome was present in 72 (36.6%). After adjusting for propensity score, red blood cell (RBC) transfusion was associated with composite outcomes (odds ratio [OR] 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.31, p = 0.004), postoperative MCS use (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.18-1.58, p < 0.001), acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis (OR 1.21, 5% CI 1.06-1.38, p = 0.004), and 30-day mortality (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.05-1.59, p = 0.02). Fresh frozen plasma was associated with composite outcome (OR 1.07, 95% CI [1.003-1.15], p = 0.042) and renal failure (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.08 [1.002-1.17], p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Intra- and postoperative transfusions (first 24 hours) of RBC and FFP were associated with adverse postoperative composite outcomes in patients undergoing OHT.

Association of four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate with subsequent plasma transfusion: A retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether patients prescribed four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4FPC) received less plasma during the following 24-hour period than those treated for the same indications who received only plasma.

INTRODUCTION

It is unclear whether 4FPC is associated with a reduction in subsequent plasma transfusion. This is important for minimising transfusion-associated risks and for inventory management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively studied patients treated for bleeding or coagulopathy. Individuals receiving 4FPC were matched by indication to patients treated with only plasma. Blood products received during 24-hour follow up were compared between 4FPC and plasma-only patients.

RESULTS

There was no difference in the number of patients receiving additional plasma (19 (21%) 4FPC patients vs 31 (34%) plasma-only patients, P = .07) nor in the median number of additional plasma units received (0 units for both groups, interquartile range [0, 0] for 4FPC patients vs [0, 1] for plasma-only patients, P = .09). Subgroup analysis comparing patients who received 4FPC for on-label vs off-label indications found no difference in the number of patients receiving plasma nor in the median number of plasma units received.

CONCLUSION

4FPC was prescribed to a diverse set of patients, and administration was not associated with reduced plasma transfusion at our institution.

A European consensus statement on the use of four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for cardiac and non-cardiac surgical patients

Modern four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate was designed originally for rapid targeted replacement of the coagulation factors II, VII, IX and X. Dosing strategies for the approved indication of vitamin K antagonist-related bleeding vary greatly. They include INR and bodyweight-related protocols as well as fixed dose regimens. Particularly in the massively bleeding trauma and cardiac surgery patient, four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate is used increasingly for haemostatic resuscitation. Members of the Transfusion and Haemostasis Subcommittee of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology performed a systematic literature review on four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate. The available evidence has been summarised for dosing, efficacy, drug safety and monitoring strategies in different scenarios. Whereas there is evidence for the efficacy of four-factor prothrombin concentrate for a variety of bleeding scenarios, convincing safety data are clearly missing. In the massively bleeding patient with coagulopathy, our group recommends the administration of an initial bolus of 25 IU.kg^-1 . This applies for: the acute reversal of vitamin K antagonist therapy; haemostatic resuscitation, particularly in trauma; and the reversal of direct oral anticoagulants when no specific antidote is available. In patients with a high risk for thromboembolic complications, e.g. cardiac surgery, the administration of an initial half-dose bolus (12.5 IU.kg^-1 ) should be considered. A second bolus may be indicated if coagulopathy and microvascular bleeding persists and other reasons for bleeding are largely ruled out. Tissue-factor-activated, factor VII-dependent and heparin insensitive point-of-care tests may be used for peri-operative monitoring and guiding of prothrombin complex concentrate therapy.

Single-Center Use of Prothrombin Complex Concentrate in Pediatric Patients

Coagulation disturbances frequently occur in critically ill children. Four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) may have a potential role in managing these patients while avoiding concerns associated with fresh frozen plasma. However, data on this product in critically ill children is scarce. We retrospectively identified 24 critically ill pediatric patients who received 4F-PCC. The primary indication was to correct coagulopathy and control bleeding in the trauma or surgical setting. 4F-PCC effectively decreased the international normalized ratio level, a surrogate marker of hemostasis. Further study is warranted to identify efficacy, indications, optimal dosing, and adverse effects in the critically ill pediatric patients.

Noteworthy Literature Published in 2017 for Thoracic Transplantation Anesthesiologists

Thoracic organ transplantation constitutes a significant proportion of all transplant procedures. Thoracic solid organ transplantation continues to be a burgeoning field of research. This article presents a review of remarkable literature published in 2017 regarding perioperative issues pertinent to the thoracic transplant anesthesiologists.