Factor IX complex(Grifols)

Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) are increasingly administered off‐label in the United States to treat bleeding in cardiovascular surgical patients and carry the potential risk for acquired thromboembolic side‐effects after surgery. Therefore, we hypothesized that the use of low‐dose 3‐factor (3F) PCC (20‐30 IU/kg), as part of a transfusion algorithm, reduces bleeding without increasing postoperative thrombotic/thromboembolic complications.

After IRB approval, we retrospectively analysed 114 consecutive, complex cardiovascular surgical patients (age > 18 years), between February 2014 and June 2015, that received low‐dose 3F‐PCC (Profilnine®), of which seven patients met established exclusion criteria. PCC was dosed according to an institutional perioperative algorithm. Allogeneic transfusions were recorded before and after PCC administration (n = 107). The incidence of postoperative thromboembolic events was determined within 30 days of surgery, and Factor II levels were measured in a subset of patients (n = 20) as a quality control measure to avoid excessive PCC dosing.

Total allogeneic blood product transfusion reached a mean of 12·4 ± 9·9 units before PCC and 5·0 ± 6·3 units after PCC administration (P < 0·001). The mean PCC dose was 15·8 ± 7·1 IU/kg. Four patients (3·8%) each experienced an ischaemic stroke on postoperative day 1, 2, 4 and 27. Seven patients (6·5%) had acquired venous thromboembolic disease within 10 days of surgery. Median factor II level after transfusion algorithm adherence and PCC administration was 87%.

3F‐PCC use for refractory bleeding after cardiovascular surgery resulted in reduced transfusion of allogeneic blood and blood products. Adherence to this algorithmic approach was associated with an acceptable incidence of postoperative thrombotic/thromboembolic complications.

Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) are indicated for urgent reversal of warfarin and used for reversal of novel oral anticoagulants, in patients with acute major bleeding or need for an urgent procedure. The research goal was to evaluate effectiveness and safety outcomes with PCC usage at our institution. A retrospective review of electronic medical records identified patients that received a PCC commercially available in the United States (KCentra(®) or Profilnine(®)) at twelve hospitals in a tertiary care health system from July 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014. A total of 193 patients received PCC, of which 184 patients received four-factor PCC. The patient population was 48 % male and 75 % Caucasian, with a mean age of 73 years old. Clinical outcomes of interest included time to achieve a target INR ≤1.3, time to Hgb >7 g/dL, and incidence of thromboembolism. A total of 143 patients were on warfarin (74.1 %) at baseline, whereas 18 patients (9.3 %) were taking a novel anticoagulant. Target INR of ≤1.3 was achieved in 125 patients (65.8 %), within a median time of 8.03 h (IQR 3.38-34.07). Among patients with a baseline Hgb <7 g/L (n = 13), the median time to Hgb >7 g/dL was 8.48 h (IQR 6.95-13.00). Eight patients (4.1 %) developed an acute venous thromboembolism following PCC administration. INR reversal was achieved in approximately two-thirds of patients, with a low incidence of venous thromboembolism. Four-factor PCC is a viable alternative to plasma.