Plasma Transfusion in Critically Ill Children. A Magical Mystery Tour?

Overview of Plasma and Platelet Transfusions in Critically Ill Children

Critically ill children are a unique population who frequently receive plasma and platelet transfusions for both active bleeding and mitigation of bleeding risk. While these products are frequently administered, transfusion indications in this population remain unclear, and practice varies across institutions and providers. In this manuscript, we will outline the current evidence regarding plasma and platelet transfusions for hemostasis in the pediatric intensive care setting. For both products, we will describe the product composition, epidemiology, and product indications and discuss the potential risks and benefits involved with the transfusion. We will also discuss knowledge gaps and future areas of research.

Solvent/Detergent-Treated Plasma in the Management of Pediatric Patients Who Require Replacement of Multiple Coagulation Factors: An Open-Label, Multicenter, Post-marketing Study

Background: Octaplas is a solvent/detergent-treated, pooled plasma used for the management of preoperative or bleeding patients who require replacement of single or multiple coagulation factors. The aim of this post-marketing study was to collect real-world data on octaplas treatment in pediatric patients, with the primary focus being safety. Methods: This was an open-label, multicenter, phase IV study conducted in patients <16 years old who required replacement of multiple coagulation factors due to liver dysfunction associated with coagulopathy and/or required cardiac surgery or liver surgery. Octaplas was administered intravenously based on ABO-group compatibility. The primary endpoints included the incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs), adverse drug reactions (ADRs), thrombotic events (TEs), thromboembolic events (TEEs) and hyperfibrinolytic events (HFEs). Results: A total of 50 patients were enrolled (≤2 years old, n = 37; >2 years old, n = 13; female, n = 24) and 49 patients completed the study. Indications for the use of octaplas included planned cardiac surgery (n = 40, 80.0%), liver transplant surgery (n = 5, 10.0%) and liver dysfunction (n = 5, 10.0%). No ADRs, HFEs or treatment-related TEs and TEEs occurred during the study. Five patients had SAEs, one of which was fatal (iatrogenic injury). Other SAEs included hemorrhage, hypotension, hemorrhagic shock, coronary artery hemorrhage, intracardiac thrombus, supraventricular tachycardia, portal vein thrombosis and respiratory failure (1 each). None of the SAEs were considered to be related to octaplas. Conclusions: Results of the present study support the use of octaplas in the management of preoperative or bleeding pediatric patients who require replacement of multiple plasma coagulation factors. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02050841.