Transfusion of Fresh Frozen Plasma in Critically Ill Patients: Effective or Useless?

Efficacy of fresh frozen plasma transfusion in decompensated cirrhosis patients with coagulopathy admitted to ICU: a retrospective cohort study from MIMIC-IV database

We aimed to explore the association between FFP transfusion and outcomes of DC patients with significant coagulopathy. A total of 693 DC patients with significant coagulopathy were analyzed with 233 patients per group after propensity score matching (PSM). Patients who received FFP transfusion were matched with those receiving conventional therapy via PSM. Regression analysis showed FFP transfusion had no benefit in 30-day (HR: 1.08, 95% CI 0.83-1.4), 90-day (HR: 1.03, 95% CI 0.80-1.31) and in-hospital(HR: 1.30, 95% CI 0.90-1.89) mortality, associated with increased risk of liver failure (OR: 3.00, 95% CI 1.78-5.07), kidney failure (OR: 1.90, 95% CI 1.13-3.18), coagulation failure (OR: 2.55, 95% CI 1.52-4.27), respiratory failure (OR: 1.76, 95% CI 1.15-2.69), and circulatory failure (OR: 2.15, 95% CI 1.27-3.64), and even associated with prolonged the LOS ICU (β: 2.61, 95% CI 1.59-3.62) and LOS hospital (β: 6.59, 95% CI 2.62-10.57). In sensitivity analysis, multivariate analysis (HR: 1.09, 95%CI 0.86, 1.38), IPTW (HR: 1.11, 95%CI 0.95-1.29) and CAPS (HR: 1.09, 95% CI 0.86-1.38) showed FFP transfusion had no beneficial effect on the 30-day mortality. Smooth curve fitting demonstrated the risk of liver failure, kidney failure and circulatory failure increased by 3%, 2% and 2% respectively, for each 1 ml/kg increase in FFP transfusion. We found there was no significant difference of CLIF-SOFA and MELD score between the two group on day 0, 3, 7, 14. Compared with the conventional group, INR, APTT, and TBIL in the FFP transfusion group significantly increased, while PaO2/FiO2 significantly decreased within 14 days. In conclusion, FFP transfusion had no beneficial effect on the 30-day, 90-day, in-hospital mortality, was associated with prolonged the LOS ICU and LOS hospital, and the increased risk of liver failure, kidney failure, coagulation failure, respiratory failure and circulatory failure events. However, large, multi-center, randomized controlled trials, prospective cohort studies and external validation are still needed to verify the efficacy of FFP transfusion in the future.

Development of blood demand prediction model using artificial intelligence based on national public big data

Objective

Modern healthcare systems face challenges related to the stable and sufficient blood supply of blood due to shortages. This study aimed to predict the monthly blood transfusion requirements in medical institutions using an artificial intelligence model based on national open big data related to transfusion.

Methods

Data regarding blood types and components in Korea from January 2010 to December 2021 were obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and Statistics Korea. The data were collected from a single medical institution. Using the obtained information, predictive models were developed, including eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM), and category boosting (CatBoost). An ensemble model was created using these three models.

Results

The prediction performance of XGBoost, LGBM, and CatBoost demonstrated a mean absolute error ranging from 14.6657 for AB+ red blood cells (RBCs) to 84.0433 for A+ platelet concentrate (PC) and a root mean squared error ranging from 18.5374 for AB+ RBCs to 118.6245 for B+ PC. The error range was further improved by creating ensemble models, wherein the department requesting blood was the most influential parameter affecting transfusion prediction performance for different blood products and types. Except for the department, the features that affected the prediction performance varied for each product and blood type, including the number of RBC antibody screens, crossmatch, nationwide blood donations, and surgeries.

Conclusion

Based on blood-related open big data, the developed blood-demand prediction algorithm can efficiently provide medical facilities with an appropriate volume of blood ahead of time.

Plasma Transfusion and Procoagulant Product Administration in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Secondary Analysis of an International Observational Study on Current Practices

OBJECTIVES

To achieve optimal hemostatic balance in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a liberal transfusion practice is currently applied despite clear evidence. We aimed to give an overview of the current use of plasma, fibrinogen concentrate, tranexamic acid (TXA), and prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) in patients on ECMO.

DESIGN

A prespecified subanalysis of a multicenter retrospective study. Venovenous (VV)-ECMO and venoarterial (VA)-ECMO are analyzed as separate populations, comparing patients with and without bleeding and with and without thrombotic complications.

SETTING

Sixteen international ICUs.

PATIENTS

Adult patients on VA-ECMO or VV-ECMO.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Of 420 VA-ECMO patients, 59% (n = 247) received plasma, 20% (n = 82) received fibrinogen concentrate, 17% (n = 70) received TXA, and 7% of patients (n = 28) received PCC. Fifty percent of patients (n = 208) suffered bleeding complications and 27% (n = 112) suffered thrombotic complications. More patients with bleeding complications than patients without bleeding complications received plasma (77% vs. 41%, p < 0.001), fibrinogen concentrate (28% vs 11%, p < 0.001), and TXA (23% vs 10%, p < 0.001). More patients with than without thrombotic complications received TXA (24% vs 14%, p = 0.02, odds ratio 1.75) in VA-ECMO, where no difference was seen in VV-ECMO. Of 205 VV-ECMO patients, 40% (n = 81) received plasma, 6% (n = 12) fibrinogen concentrate, 7% (n = 14) TXA, and 5% (n = 10) PCC. Thirty-nine percent (n = 80) of VV-ECMO patients suffered bleeding complications and 23% (n = 48) of patients suffered thrombotic complications. More patients with than without bleeding complications received plasma (58% vs 28%, p < 0.001), fibrinogen concentrate (13% vs 2%, p < 0.01), and TXA (11% vs 2%, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients on ECMO receive transfusions of plasma, procoagulant products, or antifibrinolytics. In a significant part of the plasma transfused patients, this was in the absence of bleeding or prolonged international normalized ratio. This poses the question if these plasma transfusions were administered for another indication or could have been avoided.

Rational hemostatic management in cirrhosis: from old paradigms to new clinical challenges

INTRODUCTION

Patients with cirrhosis are at risk of both thrombotic and hemorrhagic events. Traditional hemostatic tests are inadequate to assess the complex and fragile balance of hemostasis in this setting, especially in advanced stages of disease such as decompensated cirrhosis or acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF). Furthermore, the indiscriminate use of pro-hemostatic agents for prophylaxis and treatment of bleeding episodes is still debated and often contraindicated. Alongside, splanchnic, and peripheral thrombotic events are frequent in this population and require management that involves a careful balance between risks and benefits of antithrombotic therapy.

AREAS COVERED

This review aims to address the state of the art on the clinical management of the hemostatic balance of cirrhosis in terms of established knowledge and future challenges.

EXPERT OPINION

The old paradigm of cirrhosis as a naturally anticoagulated condition has been challenged by more sophisticated global tests of hemostasis. Integrating this information in the clinical decision-making is still challenging for physicians and experts in hemostasis.

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.