Evaluation of utilization pattern of fresh frozen plasma in a tertiary care oncology center

Abstract

Introduction: Blood component therapy is widely used in an oncology center. Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusions are mainly used for the treatment of certain clinical conditions such as coagulation derangements. Transfusion audits are important to understand clinical transfusion practices. This study evaluates the utilization pattern of FFP in a tertiary care oncology center. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 1338 FFP transfusions in 216 patients was done for 3 months. Analysis according to age, sex, clinical indications, requesting clinical unit, time of requisition and pre- and post-transfusion prothrombin time (PT), activated plasma thromboplastin time (aPTT), and international normalized ratio (INR) was carried out. Results: Of 1338 FFP transfusions, 63% transfusions were in males and 37% in females. Adult patients received 75% while pediatrics received 25% of all transfusions. Surgical oncology patients received maximum transfusions (56%), followed by medical oncology (41%) and least by radiation oncology (3%). Based on clinical indications, patients with deranged coagulation profile required maximum transfusions (55%) followed by bleeding patients (43%) and least for patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (2%). Mean pre- and post-transfusion PT, aPTT, and INR values were 25.6 s, 36.8 s, 2.1 and 20.56 s, 31.9 s, and 1.6 respectively; it was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: FFP transfusion plays a significant role in oncology patients as many of them experience deranged coagulation during the course of treatment. Evaluation of utilization pattern would help in better understanding of clinical transfusion practices.

Keywords

• Clinical transfusion practices
• coagulation derangements
• fresh frozen plasma transfusions
• transfusion audit