A reappraisal of plasma, prothrombin complex concentrates, and recombinant factor VIIa in patient blood management

Crit Care Clin. 2012 Jul;28(3):413-26, vi-vii. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2012.04.002.

Abstract

Plasma therapy and plasma products such as prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs), and recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) are used in the setting of massive or refractory hemorrhage. Their roles have evolved because of newly emerging options, variable availability, and heterogeneity in guidelines. These factors can be attributable to lack of evidence-based support for a defined role for plasma therapy, variability in coagulation factor content among PCCs, and uncertainty regarding safety and efficacy of rFVIIa in these settings. This review summarizes these issues and provides insight regarding use of these options in management of refractory or massive bleeding.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blood Coagulation Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Critical Care / methods*
  • Factor VIIa / therapeutic use*
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Hemorrhage / therapy*
  • Hemostatics / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Plasma*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Warfarin / adverse effects

Substances

  • Blood Coagulation Factors
  • Hemostatics
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • prothrombin complex concentrates
  • Warfarin
  • recombinant FVIIa
  • Factor VIIa