PROTOCOL FOR THE IN-HOUSE PRODUCTION OF CRYOPRECIPITATE

Effect of cryoprecipitate on an increase in fibrinogen level in patients with excessive intraoperative blood loss: a single-center retrospective study

Background

Cryoprecipitate, which contains fibrinogen and factor VIII in large quantities, is concentrated from fresh frozen plasma, and it has hemostatic effects in severe bleeding. We retrospectively examined the effects of cryoprecipitate on the increase in fibrinogen levels in patients with excessive intraoperative blood loss.

Methods

Ninety-seven patients who were administered cryoprecipitate during surgery between June 2014 and May 2019 were enrolled in our study and categorized according to the volume of intraoperative blood loss as follows: group A, 2000–5000 mL; group B, 5000–10,000 mL; group C, > 10,000 mL. Data were extracted from electronic medical records and electronic anesthesia records. The primary endpoint was an increase in the fibrinogen level after the administration of cryoprecipitate.

Results

Nine patients with no fibrinogen data and four patients with a bleeding volume of less than 2000 mL were excluded; thus, 84 patients (A: n = 36, B: n = 37, C: n = 11) were evaluated. The mean intraoperative blood loss (mL) in groups A, B, and C were 3348 ± 791, 6688 ± 1225, and 14,281 ± 5142, respectively. The fibrinogen levels (mg/dL) before cryoprecipitate administration in groups A, B, and C were 189 ± 94, 113 ± 42, and 83 ± 29, respectively (p < 0.05 among the groups). The increase in fibrinogen level (mg/dL) after cryoprecipitate administration in group C was significantly greater than that in group A (84 ± 34 versus 50 ± 36, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that the effect of cryoprecipitate on the increase in fibrinogen level was most apparent in patients with excessive intraoperative blood loss ≥ 10,000 mL. In addition, most patients with intraoperative blood loss ≥ 5000 mL had fibrinogen levels < 150 mg/dL which improved to ≥ 150 mg/dL after cryoprecipitate administration in approximately 70% of patients. Therefore, cryoprecipitate administration should be considered for patients with hypofibrinogenemia (≤ 150 mg/dL) experiencing severe bleeding (e.g., ≥ 5000 mL) and rapid administration of cryoprecipitate is necessary to maximize the hemostatic effect, especially when the bleeding volume exceeds 10,000 ml.

A novel modified thaw-siphon method for extracting cryoprecipitate: The Bokutoh-siphon method

BACKGROUND

Cryoprecipitate (CRYO) is neither produced nor supplied by the Japanese Red Cross Society. A novel CRYO extraction method established in-house by modifying a thaw-siphon technique was demonstrated in this study.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A pack of fresh frozen plasma was thawed and equally divided into two bags for CRYO extraction by different methods. CRYO was extracted from the blood plasma using a standard centrifugation method and our modified thaw-siphon method (Bokutoh-siphon method; B method). The two different CRYOs extracted were analyzed to compare the differences in the amount of fibrinogen recovered, clotting factors extracted, and clotting activity.

RESULTS

The amount of fibrinogen in the CRYO extracted using the B-siphon method was similar to that obtained using the standard method (recovery of fibrinogen: B-siphon method: 71.2% vs. standard method: 61.0%). The amount of clotting XIII factor extracted using the B-siphon method was significantly lower than those extracted using the standard method. On the other hand, clotting II, V factors, and C1q esterase inhibitor not concentrated in CRYO content from the B-siphon method were significantly higher than that from the standard method.

CONCLUSION

A new in-house CRYO preparation method was established by modifying a previously used thaw-siphon method. A coagulation factor-rich CRYO was extracted from plasma frozen at -40°C along with the first fraction of thawed plasma, without using a large-capacity refrigerated centrifuge for blood bags.

Initial Results of Empirical Cryoprecipitate Transfusion in the Treatment of Isolated Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Use of In-house-produced Cryoprecipitate

Acute coagulopathy is common after traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly in severe cases of acute subdural hemorrhage (ASDH). Although acute coagulopathy is associated with poor outcomes, the optimal treatment strategy remains unknown. Here, we report the initial results of an empirical cryoprecipitate transfusion strategy that we developed as an early intervention for acute coagulopathy after TBI. We performed chart reviews of adult patients (aged ≥18 years) who received early cryoprecipitate transfusion after admission to our institution with a diagnosis of severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8) and ASDH from March 2013 to December 2016. We compared the outcomes of these patients with those who were treated before the implementation of the cryoprecipitate transfusion strategy (January 2011-February 2013). During the study period, 33 patients received early cryoprecipitate transfusion and no acute transfusion-related adverse event was reported. The rate of coagulopathy development within 24 h after admission was lower in these patients (23%) than in the controls (49%), but the difference was not significant (P = 0.062). The in-hospital mortality rate was 36% in patients receiving early cryoprecipitate transfusion and 52% in controls. After adjusting for confounding factors, the in-hospital mortality rate was significantly lower in the intervention period [adjusted odds ratio: 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.08-0.78, P = 0.017]. In summary, we analyzed initial results of a cryoprecipitate transfusion strategy in patients with severe isolated TBI and ASDH. No acute transfusion-related adverse event was observed, and early transfusion of the in-house-produced cryoprecipitate may have reduced rates of coagulopathy development and in-hospital mortality.