Changes in the Use of Fresh-Frozen Plasma Transfusions in Preterm Neonates: A Single Center Experience

Viscoelastic coagulation testing in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: advantages and pitfalls in clinical practice

The expression "developmental hemostasis" indicates the age-related physiological changes occurring during the maturational process of the hemostatic system. Despite the quantitative and qualitative alterations, the neonatal hemostatic system is competent and well-balanced. Conventional coagulation tests do not provide reliable information as they only explore the procoagulants during the neonatal period. In contrast, viscoelastic coagulation tests (VCTs), such as viscoelastic coagulation monitoring (VCM), thromboelastography (TEG or ClotPro), and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), are point-of-care assays that provide a quick, dynamic and global view of the hemostatic process, allowing prompt and individualized therapeutic intervention when necessary. Their use in neonatal care is on the increase and they could help monitor patients at risk of hemostatic derangement. In addition, they are crucial for anticoagulation monitoring during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Moreover, implementing VCT-based monitoring could optimize blood product use.

Fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate: Can we safely reduce their use in the NICU?

OBJECTIVE

To study patterns of use of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) and Cryoprecipitate (CRYO) in a level 4 NICU and assess what proportions were not supported by literature.

STUDY DESIGN

single centered retrospective observational. Charts of neonates admitted between 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2017 to CT Children's level 4 NICU were reviewed. Transfusions were assigned as "supported" or "non-supported" based on available evidence. Groups were compared using T-tests and chi-squared analyses.

RESULTS

of 4110 total admissions, 197 (4.8%) received a total of 461 transfusions (374 FFP, 87 CRYO). Only 59% of FFP and 60% CRYO were supported by literature. Within the "non-supported" group the largest category was neonates transfused prophylactically.

CONCLUSION

A large proportion of transfusions administered to neonates was not evidence-based, suggesting there are opportunities for improvement in use of these products.

Survey of transfusion practices in preterm infants in Europe

BACKGROUND

Preterm infants commonly receive red blood cell (RBC), platelet and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusions. The aim of this Neonatal Transfusion Network survey was to describe current transfusion practices in Europe and to compare our findings to three recent randomised controlled trials to understand how clinical practice relates to the trial data.

METHODS

From October to December 2020, we performed an online survey among 597 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) caring for infants with a gestational age (GA) of <32 weeks in 18 European countries.

RESULTS

Responses from 343 NICUs (response rate: 57%) are presented and showed substantial variation in clinical practice. For RBC transfusions, 70% of NICUs transfused at thresholds above the restrictive thresholds tested in the recent trials and 22% below the restrictive thresholds. For platelet transfusions, 57% of NICUs transfused at platelet count thresholds above 25×10⁹/L in non-bleeding infants of GA of <28 weeks, while the 25×10⁹/L threshold was associated with a lower risk of harm in a recent trial. FFP transfusions were administered for coagulopathy without active bleeding in 39% and for hypotension in 25% of NICUs. Transfusion volume, duration and rate varied by factors up to several folds between NICUs.

CONCLUSIONS

Transfusion thresholds and aspects of administration vary widely across European NICUs. In general, transfusion thresholds used tend to be more liberal compared with data from recent trials supporting the use of more restrictive thresholds. Further research is needed to identify the barriers and enablers to incorporation of recent trial findings into neonatal transfusion practice.

Acute haemolytic transfusion reaction after transfusion of fresh frozen plasma in a neonate-Preventable by using solvent/detergent-treated pooled plasma?

BACKGROUND

Plasma is a commonly used blood product and is available in the form of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or pooled solvent/detergent-treated plasma. In the Netherlands, solvent/detergent-treated plasma has become the standard product in the adult population since several years, but for neonatal use, FFP remains the product of preference.

DESCRIPTION

A preterm neonate developed lung bleeding at day 8 postpartum, for which intubation and mechanical ventilation was required and transfusions with packed red blood cells and plasma, in the form of FFP, were given. Five hours after transfusion, a red discoloration of the urine occurred. An acute haemolytic transfusion was suspected, confirmed by laboratory investigations (fast decrease in haemoglobin, increased free haemoglobin, decreased haptoglobin, increased lactate dehydrogenase and a positive direct antiglobulin test [IgG 2+]). Additional research showed that the FFP product contained nonspecific auto-antibodies that reacted with the transfused erythrocytes, most test erythrocytes and the donor's own erythrocytes.

CONCLUSION

A neonate experienced an acute haemolytic reaction, most probably caused by administrating a FFP product containing auto-antibodies. If transfused with solvent/detergent-treated plasma, such antibodies would have been diluted or captured. This case adds a new argument to the discussion on expanding the use of solvent/detergent-treated plasma to the paediatric population.

Use of Fresh-frozen Plasma in Newborn Infants

Nearly 10% of premature and critically ill infants receive fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) transfusions to reduce their high risk of bleeding. The authors have only limited data to identify relevant clinical predictors of bleeding and to evaluate the efficacy of FFP administration. There is still no consensus on the optimal use of FFP in infants who have abnormal coagulation parameters but are not having active bleeding. The aims of this review are to present current evidence derived from clinical studies focused on the use of FFP in neonatology and then use these data to propose best practice recommendations for the safety of neonates receiving FFP.

Optimizing fresh-frozen plasma transfusion in surgical neonates through thromboelastography: a quality improvement study

Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is largely misused in the neonatal setting. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of a Thromboelastography (TEG)-based Quality Improvement (QI) project on perioperative FFP use and neonatal outcomes. Retrospective pre-post implementation study in a level-III NICU including all neonates undergoing major non-cardiac surgery before (01-12/2017) and after (01-12/2019) the intervention. In 2018, the intervention included the following: (1) Training on TEG, (2) Implementation of TEG, and (3) Algorithm for TEG-directed FFP administration in surgical neonates. We compared pre- vs post-intervention patient characteristics, hemostasis, and clinical management. Linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the impact of the project on main outcomes. We analyzed 139 neonates (pre-intervention: 72/post-intervention: 67) with a mean (± SD) gestational age (GA) 34.9 (± 5) weeks and birthweight 2265 (± 980) grams which were exposed to 184 surgical procedures (pre-intervention: 91/post-intervention: 93). Baseline characteristics were similar between periods. In 2019, prothrombin time (PT) was longer (14.3 vs 13.2 s; p < 0.05) and fibrinogen was lower (229 vs 265 mg/dl; p < 0.05), if compared to 2017. In 2019, the intraoperative exposure to FFP decreased (31% vs 60%, p < 0.001), while the pre-operative FFP use did not change. The reduction of intraoperative FFP did not impact on mortality and morbidity. Intraoperative FFP use was lower in the post-intervention even after controlling for GA, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, PT, and fibrinogen (Odds ratio: 0.167; 95% CI: 0.070, 0.371).   Conclusion: The TEG-based QI project for the management of FFP during neonatal surgery reduced intraoperative FFP exposure. What is Known: • PT and aPTT are poor predictors of bleeding risk in acquired neonatal coagulopathy, leading to likely unnecessary fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion in the Neonatal Intensive Care Setting.  • As neonatal hemostasis is a delicate balance between the concomitant reduction of pro- and anti-coagulants drivers, thromboelastography (TEG) is a promising alternative for coagulation monitoring. What is New: • The implementation of TEG, training, and shared protocols contributed to reduced intraoperative FFP use, which was not associated with increased mortality or bleeding events. • These findings inform future research showing that there is clinical equipoise to allow for larger studies to confirm the use of TEG in NICUs and to identify TEG cut-offs for transfusion practice.

Massive Gastric Hemorrhage after Indomethacin Therapy: A Rare Presentation and Critical Management in an Extremely Preterm Infant

Indomethacin has been widely used in preterm infants with hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Gastrointestinal complications of indomethacin have been reported in 5% of treated neonates. However, massive gastric mucosa hemorrhage is a rarely reported complication. To the best of our knowledge, the infant in this report is the smallest reported in the literature to have undergone successful surgery for such a complication. A male preterm infant weighing 566 g was born at 25^2/7 weeks of gestational age without a complicated maternal history. Soon after birth, he received nasal noninvasive respiratory support and minimal feeding. PDA was observed since the first day of life (DOL), treatments were initiated on the second DOL for the hemodynamical significance, and PDA was closed after two courses of indomethacin therapy (0.2 mg/kg). At midnight on the seventh DOL, generalized pallor, bloody gastric drainage, and a distended stomach were observed. Massive gastric bleeding was suspected. He suffered from intermittent hypotension, which was corrected with blood products and fluid resuscitation under monitoring with a radial arterial line. Gastric lavage with cooling saline was performed twice but in vain. Prior to surgical consultation, intravascular volume transfusion was given twice. An exploratory laparotomy was arranged after obtaining the parents' consent. Blood oozing from the gastric mucosa was observed through gastrostomy and was successfully stopped via epinephrine-soaked gauze compression. After the operation, his clinical course remained uneventful, and he was discharged without neurological anomaly at two-year follow-up. Physicians need to be cautious of indomethacin's effect on platelet dysfunction in preterm infants with multiple predisposing factors. The tendency for mucosal bleeding should be continuously monitored after indomethacin therapy.