D Arni1, B E Wildhaber1,2, V McLin2,3, P C Rimensberger4, M Ansari5, P Fontana6, O Karam4,7. 1. Pediatric Surgery, University Center of Pediatric Surgery of Western Switzerland, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. 2. Swiss Center for Liver Disease in Children, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. 3. Pediatric Gastro-Enterology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. 4. Pediatric Critical Care Unit, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. 5. Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. 6. Angiology and Hemostasis, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. 7. Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Richmond, VA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Thrombotic complications affect 3-10% of patients after liver transplantation (LT), leading to potentially life-threatening complications. In the days following LT, antithrombin (AT) is decreased longer than pro-coagulant factors, thus favouring a pro-thrombotic profile. Plasma transfusions are given empirically in some centres to correct AT levels following LT. We assessed the effect of plasma transfusion on AT levels after paediatric LT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective single-centre observational study in 20 consecutive paediatric LT recipients over a 24-month period. Plasma was administered twice daily (10 ml/kg/dose) according to an existing protocol. AT levels were measured once daily, immediately prior to and one hour after the morning plasma transfusion. Sample size was calculated based on a non-inferiority hypothesis. RESULTS: The median age and weight were 11.6 years (IQR 2.8; 14.7) and 40 kg (IQR 12.75; 44.8), respectively. We collected 85-paired blood samples. The median AT level prior to plasma transfusion was 58%. The median difference in AT levels before and after plasma transfusion was 4.2% (P = 0.001). Changes in AT levels after plasma transfusion were not correlated with baseline AT levels (R = 0.19) or patient weight (R = 0.18). CONCLUSION: Plasma transfusions only marginally increase AT levels in children after LT. Therefore, prophylactic plasma transfusions probably do not seem to confer an advantage in the routine management of paediatric LT patients. Randomized controlled trials are needed to identify the optimal anticoagulation strategy in this specific population.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Thrombotic complications affect 3-10% of patients after liver transplantation (LT), leading to potentially life-threatening complications. In the days following LT, antithrombin (AT) is decreased longer than pro-coagulant factors, thus favouring a pro-thrombotic profile. Plasma transfusions are given empirically in some centres to correct AT levels following LT. We assessed the effect of plasma transfusion on AT levels after paediatric LT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective single-centre observational study in 20 consecutive paediatric LT recipients over a 24-month period. Plasma was administered twice daily (10 ml/kg/dose) according to an existing protocol. AT levels were measured once daily, immediately prior to and one hour after the morning plasma transfusion. Sample size was calculated based on a non-inferiority hypothesis. RESULTS: The median age and weight were 11.6 years (IQR 2.8; 14.7) and 40 kg (IQR 12.75; 44.8), respectively. We collected 85-paired blood samples. The median AT level prior to plasma transfusion was 58%. The median difference in AT levels before and after plasma transfusion was 4.2% (P = 0.001). Changes in AT levels after plasma transfusion were not correlated with baseline AT levels (R = 0.19) or patient weight (R = 0.18). CONCLUSION: Plasma transfusions only marginally increase AT levels in children after LT. Therefore, prophylactic plasma transfusions probably do not seem to confer an advantage in the routine management of paediatric LT patients. Randomized controlled trials are needed to identify the optimal anticoagulation strategy in this specific population.
Authors: Lani Lieberman; Oliver Karam; Simon J Stanworth; Susan M Goobie; Gemma Crighton; Ruchika Goel; Jacques Lacroix; Marianne E Nellis; Robert I Parker; Katherine Steffen; Paul Stricker; Stacey L Valentine; Marie E Steiner Journal: Pediatr Crit Care Med Date: 2022-01-01 Impact factor: 3.971
Authors: Meghan Delaney; Oliver Karam; Lani Lieberman; Katherine Steffen; Jennifer A Muszynski; Ruchika Goel; Scot T Bateman; Robert I Parker; Marianne E Nellis; Kenneth E Remy Journal: Pediatr Crit Care Med Date: 2022-01-01 Impact factor: 3.971