New transfusion practice and haemostasis.

Haemostatic deficiency following blood transfusion and surgery is caused by multifactorial mechanisms. Various protocols of component therapy have been used to prevent the haemostatic abnormalities and bleeding tendency. In planning the protocols, the defect is considered to be mainly due to dilution. Prophylactic use of fresh frozen plasma and/or platelet concentrates have not proved to be very effective. Treatment of the bleeding tendency should therefore be based on specific diagnosis of the haemostatic defect.