[Reasons for fresh frozen plasma transfusion in a general hospital].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) transfusion indications in a Mexican hospital.

SETTING

A general hospital for federal government employees located in the city of Morelia, State of Michoacan, Mexico.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We evaluated all FFP transfusions between February and August, 1998 classifying them as appropriate or inappropriate according to the recent FFP-transfusion guidelines: correction of known coagulation factor deficiencies with bleeding and correction of microvascular bleeding when prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin time are > 1.6 times normal (coagulation index o CI), urgent reversal of warfarin therapy, antithrombin III deficiency, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura treatment, liver transplant and acute disseminated intravascular coagulation.

RESULTS

78 patients with 292 FFP units transfused were analyzed: in 20 patients the indication was clotting support, 16 with CI < 1.5 and four with CI > 1.6, one with blood loss and one with surgical procedure; hypoalbuminemia in 10; hypovolemia in eight; unidentified reason in 33 and others in seven patients. Eleven units (3.76%) were considered properly transfused whereas 281 (96.23%) were inadequately indicated.