Reconsidering Fresh Frozen Plasma Availability to Reduce Blood Product Waste During Massive Transfusion Events in Trauma

Abstract

Background

Within component therapy of massive transfusion protocol (MTP) in trauma, thawed plasma is particularly susceptible to expiring without use given its short 5-day shelf life. Optimizing the number of thawed products without compromising safety is important for hospital resource management. The goal is to examine thawed plasma utilization rates in trauma MTP events and optimize the MTP cooler content at our Level I trauma center.

Methods

Trauma MTP activations from 01/2019 to 12/2022 were retrospectively reviewed. During the study period, blood products were distributed in a 12:12:1 ratio of packed red blood cells (pRBC): plasma: platelets per cooler, with up to 4 additional units of low-titer, group O whole blood (LTOWB) available. The primary measure was percent return of unused, thawed plasma.

Results

There were 367 trauma MTP activations with a median (IQR) activation call-to-first cooler delivery time of 8 (6-10) minutes. 73.0% of thawed plasma was returned to the blood bank unused. In one third of MTP activations, all dispensed plasma was returned. The majority (74.1%) of patients required 6 or fewer units of plasma. In 81.5% of activations, 10 or fewer units of plasma and 10 or fewer units of pRBC were used.

Discussion

The majority of trauma MTP requirements may be accommodated with a reduced cooler content of 6 units pRBC, 6 units plasma, and 1 pheresis platelets, buffered by up to 4 units LTOWB (approximates 4 units of pRBC/4 units plasma), in conjunction with a sub-10min cooler delivery time. Follow-up longitudinal studies are needed.