Saturday January 5, 2008
Ok to fresh frozen plasma but male-donor-only please !!

In July 2003 the English Blood Service stopped using female donor plasma for the manufacture of fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), due to plasma from female donors containing antileucocyte antibodies, is allegedly a contributor to the development of acute lung injury (ALI). To confirm above hypothesis, a before-and-after, observational (single-centre) study was performed on 211 consecutive patients undergoing open repair of a ruptured AAA over 8 years period (1998 to 2006).

Primary outcome was development of ALI (PaO2/FiO2 < color="#003333">Secondary outcomes were time to extubation, and survival at 30 days.


Results
Primary outcome: There was significantly less ALI following the change to male-only FFP (36% before vs 21% after, P = 0.042). Secondary outcomes: were not statistically different between groups.

Patients with ALI in either group had a poorer 30-day survival (59% vs 80%, P = 0.005).

Conclusion:

Exclusion of female-donor FFP was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of ALI (in patients undergoing repair of a ruptured AAA).

Reference: click to get abstract / article

1. The effect of male-donor-only fresh frozen plasma on the incidence of acute lung injury following ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair - Freeman Hospital and National Blood Service, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK - from 27th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine Brussels, Belgium. 27–30 March 2007, Critical Care 2007, 11(Suppl 2):P374