Blood and Tissue Resources Program

Guidelines for the Administration of Plasma

New York State Council on Human Blood and Transfusion Services
New York State Department of Health
Wadsworth Center
Empire State Plaza - P.O. Box 509
Albany, New York 12201-0509
Committee Members.

Guidelines (.pdf - 74.6KB)

Second Edition
2004

• Introduction
• Fresh Frozen Plasma
• Other Plasma Components
• Situations in Which FFP and Liquid Plasma Are Not Indicated
• Special Considerations
• Pertinent Literature
• Procedures in Patients Receiving Warfarin
• Procedure-Specific Literature
• Massive Transfusion Literature
• Committee Members

INTRODUCTION

Plasma is the liquid, non-cellular portion of blood, and contains water, electrolytes and proteins. Several types of plasma are available for transfusion. All contain coagulation proteins, but in different relative amounts. With rare exceptions, they are all used in treating patients with coagulation deficits.

The usual initial plasma dose for coagulation deficits is 10 - 20 mL/kg, which usually amounts to four to eight units of plasma in an adult. Patients who are actively bleeding or who have consumption of coagulation factors (disseminated intravascular coagulation, or DIC) may require larger doses or repeated treatments. Whenever large volumes of plasma are administered, consideration must be given to the patient's cardiovascular system ability to adapt to the volume load.

When plasma is given prophylactically prior to invasive procedures, the timing of administration should take into account the half-life of the coagulation factor(s) in need of replacement.

I. FRESH FROZEN PLASMA

1. Description

   Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is plasma frozen within six to eight hours of collection (depending on the anticoagulant used), and stored at minus 18 degrees Celsius or lower for up to one year. FFP is prepared either by separation from whole blood or collection via plasmapheresis. A single FFP component unit usually consists of 200 - 300 mL, whereas a plasmapheresis unit may vary from 200 mL to several times that amount. FFP contains all known coagulation and anticoagulant proteins in concentrations found in normal individuals.

2. Indications

   1. Prophylaxis associated with invasive procedures in non-bleeding patients with acquired coagulation defects.

   Plasma is appropriate for nonbleeding patients who are at significant risk for bleeding (e.g., due to liver disease) in association with invasive procedures, in association with prolonged coagulation test results, generally prothrombin time (PT) and/or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) greater than 1.5 times the mean of the reference range. Abnormal coagulation tests per se are not invariably indications for FFP. Therapy should be tailored to each specific patient. In addition to any deficiencies, inhibitors should be considered as well.

   2. Emergency surgery in a non-bleeding patient on warfarin with a PT greater than 1.5 times the mean of the reference range, whenever time does not permit warfarin- induced factor deficiency reversal with vitamin K. Concurrent administration of vitamin K should be considered depending on the urgency of the case and the specific clinical situation.

   3. Prophylaxis in non-bleeding patients with known hereditary coagulation abnormalities.

   Plasma is appropriate for non-bleeding patients with a known, single coagulation factor deficiency for which no specific factor concentrate is available and who are at significant risk for bleeding related to an invasive procedure. Plasma may also be appropriate for non-bleeding patients with a personal or family history of bleeding associated with invasive procedures.

   4. Bleeding patients with acquired multiple coagulation factor deficiencies.

   Such patients may include those with liver disease, DIC, trauma, massive transfusion or other medical conditions, as well as those receiving warfarin or similar anticoagulants.

   5. Bleeding patients with known, hereditary coagulation factor deficiencies.

   Plasma should be limited to patients for whom clotting factor concentrates are not available.

   6. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) or other thrombotic microangiopathy (e.g., hemolytic uremic syndrome or HELLP syndrome).

   7. Rare indications

   a. factor XIII deficiency, as an alternative to cryoprecipitate;

   b. prophylactic or therapeutic replacement of anticoagulant proteins (e.g., antithrombin, protein C, protein S) whenever specific concentrates are not available; and

   c. Cl esterase inhibitor deficiency (life-threatening hereditary angioedema).

II. OTHER PLASMA COMPONENTS

1. Description

   1. Liquid Plasma: Plasma prepared from whole blood. It is stored unfrozen at between one and six degrees Celsius, and can be transfused up to five days after the expiration date of the whole blood. Liquid plasma may contain reduced amounts of factors V and VIII.

   Plasma prepared from outdated whole blood contains higher concentrations of potassium and ammonia than plasma initially prepared as FFP.

   2. Thawed Plasma: FFP prepared in a closed system, but not transfused within 24 hours after thawing. It can be stored between one and six degrees Celsius and used up to five days after thawing. Thawed plasma may contain reduced amounts of factors V and VIII.

   3. Plasma Frozen Within 24 Hours after Phlebotomy: Plasma stored between one and six degrees Celsius, frozen within 24 hours after phlebotomy, and transfused either immediately or up to five days after thawing. If not administered within 24 hours of thawing, such plasma may contain reduced amounts of factors V and VIII.

   4. Plasma Cryoprecipitate Reduced (Cryo-poor plasma): Plasma from which cryoprecipitate has been removed. It is deficient in fibrinogen, factors VIII and XIII, and von Willebrand factor.

   Note: Each of the plasma components above must be labeled or relabeled prior to storage.

2. Indications for Other Plasma Components

   These components have indications similar to those for FFP, including both congenital and acquired deficiencies of the stable clotting factors (including II, VII, IX, X, XI, and XIII), if specific factor concentrates are unavailable or inappropriate.

III. SITUATIONS IN WHICH FFP AND LIQUID PLASMA ARE NOT INDICATED

1. for patients with abnormal coagulation tests due to clotting factor deficiencies, coagulation factor inhibitors, or heparin;
2. for volume expansion;
3. as a nutritional supplement or protein source;
4. prophylactically in massive transfusion in the absence of documented coagulopathy;
5. prophylactically following cardiopulmonary bypass;
6. to promote wound healing; and
7. for patients with hypoglobulinemia.

IV. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Upon completion of thawing, FFP should be either transfused immediately, or stored at between one and six degrees Celsius. When it is administered as a source of labile coagulation factors, FFP should be transfused within 24 hours of thawing.
2. The indications and dosage for autogeneic plasma components do not differ from those for allogeneic plasma.

PERTINENT LITERATURE

Brecher M, ed. Technical manual. 14th ed. Bethesda: American Association of Blood Banks, 2002:161-87.

College of American Pathologists Task Force. Practice parameter for the use of fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, and platelets. JAMA 1994;271:777-81.

Crowther MA, Ginsberg JS, Hirsch F. Practical aspects of anticoagulant therapy. In: Colman RW, Hirsh J, Marder VJ, Clowes AW, George JN, eds. Hemostasis and thrombosis. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001:1497-516.

Horne III MK. Hemostatic testing and laboratory interpretation. In: Kitchens CS, Alving BM, Kessler CM, eds. Consultative hemostasis and thrombosis. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 2002:15-26.

Toy P. Plasma transfusion and alternatives. In: Simon T, Dzik WN, Snyder EL, Stowell CP, Strauss RG, eds. Rossi's principles of transfusion medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2002:335-40.

PROCEDURES IN PATIENTS RECEIVING WARFARIN

Benoliel R, Leviner E, Katz J, Tzukert A. Dental treatment for the patient on anticoagulant therapy: prothrombin time value - what difference does it make? Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1986;62:149-51.

Makris M. The management of coumadin-induced over-anticoagulation. Br J Haematol 2001;114:271-80.

Torn M, Rosendaal FR. Oral anticoagulation in surgical procedures: risks and recommendations. Br J Haematol 2003;123:676-82.

White RH, McKittrick T, Hutchinson R, Twitchell J. Temporary discontinuation of warfarin therapy: changes in the international normalized ratio. Ann Intern Med 1995;122:40-2.

PROCEDURE-SPECIFIC LITERATURE

DeLoughery TG, Liebler JM, Simonds V, Goodnight SH. Invasive line placement in critically ill patients: do hemostatic defects matter? Transfusion 1996;36:827-31.

Ewe K. Bleeding after liver biopsy does not correlate with indices of peripheral coagulation. Dig Dis Sci 1981;26:388-93.

Foster PF, Moore LR, Sankary HN, et al. Central venous catheterization in patients with coagulopathy. Arch Surg 1992;127:273-5.

Friedman EW, Sussman II. Safety of invasive procedures in patients with the coagulopathy of liver disease. Clin Lab Haemat 1989;11:199-204.

Martin RC 2^nd, Jarnagin WR, Fong Y, et al. The use of fresh frozen plasma after major hepatic resection for colorectal metastasis: is there a standard for transfusion? J Am Coll Surg 2003;196:402-9.

McVay PA, Toy PTCY. Lack of increased bleeding after paracentesis and thoracentesis in patients with mild coagulation abnormalities. Transfusion 1991;31:164-71.

McVay PA, Toy PTCY. Lack of increased bleeding after liver biopsy in patients with mild hemostatic abnormalities. Transfusion 1990;94:747-53.

Van Os EC, Kamath PS, Gostout CJ, Heit JA. Gastroenterological procedures among patients with disorders of hemostasis: evaluation and management recommendations. Gastrointest Endosc 1999;50:536-43.

MASSIVE TRANSFUSION LITERATURE

Ciavarella D, Reed RL, Counts RB, et al. Clotting factor levels and the risk of diffuse microvascular bleeding in the massively transfused patient. Br J Haematol 1987;67:365-8.

Counts RB, Haisch C, Simon TL, et al. Hemostasis in massively transfused trauma patients. Ann Surg 1979;190:91-9.

Harrigan C, Lucas CE, Ledgerwood AM, et al. Serial changes in primary hemostasis after massive transfusion. Surgery 1985;99:836-44.

Lucas CE, Ledgerwood AM. Clinical significance of altered coagulation tests after massive transfusion for trauma. Amer Surg 1981;47:125-30.

Mannucci PM, Federici AB, Sirchia G. Hemostasis testing during massive blood replacement. Vox Sang 1982;42:113-23.

Miller RD, Robbins TO, Tong MJ, Barton SL. Coagulation defects associated with massive blood transfusions. Ann Surg 1971;174:794-800.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

NEW YORK STATE
COUNCIL ON HUMAN BLOOD AND TRANSFUSION SERVICES

Membership Roster - 2004

NEW YORK STATE
COUNCIL ON HUMAN BLOOD AND TRANSFUSION SERVICES

BLOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE

Membership Roster - 2004

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Blood and Tissue Resources Program
New York State Department of Health
Wadsworth Center
Empire State Plaza
P.O. Box 509
Albany, New York 12201-0509
Telephone: (518) 485-5341
Fax: (518) 485-5342
E-mail: btraxess@health.state.ny.us.
Website:www.wadsworth.org/labcert/blood_tissue.