In: Clotting Disorders ISBN: 978-1-63482-830-7 Editor: Jeffrey L. Wilson © 2015 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Chapter 6 Prophylactic Fresh Frozen Plasma: Time for a Re-Think? Anita Sugavanam1 and Susan V. Mallett2 1Anaesthetic Consultant, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, Brighton, East Sussex, UK 2Anaesthetic Consultant, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Pond St, London, UK Abstract Practice guidelines continue to give somewhat conflicting advice regarding indications for Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) transfusion and it is therefore not surprising that repeatedly worldwide, audits of FFP usage demonstrate abundant inappropriate transfusion. Nearly half of all FFP transfusions are given prophylactically in order to correct prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and/or international normalized ratio (INR) prior to an invasive or operative procedure in the absence of bleeding. However, the evidence supporting this practice is very poor and will be reviewed in this chapter. Meta-analyses fail to demonstrate that elevated PT and/or INR predict(s) bleeding across a wide range of specialties. Global assays of hemostasis such as viscoelastography may be more useful in predicting bleeding risk but large-scale outcome studies are required. Studies in different patient populations show that coagulation Correspondance to Anita Sugavanam:
[email protected] 98 Anita Sugavanam and Susan V. Mallett factor levels are generally well above the threshold for adequate hemostasis (30%) until the INR exceeds 2.0 x control. In addition, FFP does not reliably correct INR values ≤ 1.8 x control unless given in volumes much larger than conventional doses. Specific clinical scenarios where prophylactic FFP transfusions often occur include patients with liver disease, procedures in critical care, cardiac and liver surgery and warfarin reversal.