http://www.fpnotebook.com/

Plasma Transfusion

Aka: Plasma Transfusion, Fresh Frozen Plasma, FFP

Indications
1. Warfarin use or INR >1.6 and
  1. Active major bleeding or
  2. Intracranial Hemorrhage
  3. Prevent bleeding prior to emergent major procedure or
  4. Inherited single Clotting Factor deficiency with no available safe factors available
2. Acute Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) with active bleeding (FFP only, not thawed plasma)
3. Microvascular bleeding during massive transfusion (>1 blood volume or 5L blood in a 70 kg male)
4. Replacement fluid for thrombotic microangiopathy
  1. Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
  2. Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
5. Hereditary Angioedema (if C1 esterase inhibitor is unavailable)
Preparations
1. Fresh Frozen Plasma
  1. Contains all Coagulation Factors
2. Thawed Plasma
  1. May be kept at 33.8 to 42.8 F (1 to 6 C) for up to 5 days
  2. Contains all Coagulation Factors, but lower levels of factor V and factor VIII
  3. Do not use in DIC (use FFP instead)
References
1. Liumbruno (2009) Blood Transfus 7(2): 132-50
2. Sharma (2011) Am Fam Physician 83(6): 719-24

Family Practice Notebook

Patients should address specific medical concerns with their physicians.

Although access to this page is not restricted, the information found here is intended for use by medical providers.

This page was written by Scott Moses, MD, last revised on 12/1/2011 and last published on 5/14/2013.

This is one of 5887 pages in the Family Practice Notebook