Management of platelet disorders and platelet transfusions in ICU patients

Thrombocytopenia or receipt of anti-platelet drugs, with or without bleeding, are common indications for platelet transfusions in the ICU. However there is almost no evidence base for these practices other than expert opinion. Also common is use of platelet transfusions prior to invasive procedures or surgery in patients with thrombocytopenia. Likewise there is no high quality evidence that such practices are efficacious or safe. Recently, it has become clear that, whether causal or not, patients receiving prophylactic platelet transfusions experience high rates of nosocomial infection, thrombosis, organ failure and mortality, which increases the urgency and need for randomized trials to assess these practices.

Source: Transfusion Medicine Reviews - May 3, 2017 Category: Hematology Authors: Neil Blumberg, Jill M. Cholette, Amy E. Schmidt, Richard P. Phipps, Sherry L. Spinelli, Joanna M. Heal, Anthony P. Pietropaoli, Majed A. Refaai, Patricia J. Sime Source Type: research