Preprocedural prophylaxis with blood products in patients with cirrhosis: Results from a survey of the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (AISF)

Abstract

Introduction: The concept of rebalanced hemostasis in cirrhosis challenges the policy of transfusing plasma or platelets before invasive procedures in patients with prolonged PT or severe thrombocytopenia. Recent guidelines recommend against plasma transfusion and suggest avoiding/minimizing platelet transfusions.

Aim: We assessed how hepato-gastroenterologists manage prolonged PT/INR or severe thrombocytopenia before invasive procedures.

Methods: On May 2021, AISF members were sent a questionnaire addressing the PT/INR and platelet thresholds required before invasive procedures, the use of other markers of bleeding risk or other hemostatic treatments and the burden of pre-emptive plasma and platelet transfusions.

Results: Of 62 respondents, 94% and 100% use PT/INR and platelet count to assess bleeding risk, respectively. Only 37% and 32% require less conservative PT/INR or platelet counts thresholds for low-risk procedures, respectively. As for those applying single thresholds, 68% require PT/INR <1,5 and 86% require platelet counts ≥50 × 10⁹/L. Half respondents use additional indicators of bleeding risk and 63% other hemostatic treatments. Low-risk procedures account for 70% of procedures, and for 50% and 59% of plasma and platelets units transfused, respectively.

Conclusions: the survey indicates lack of compliance with guidelines that advise against plasma and platelet transfusions before invasive procedures and the need for prospective studies and inter-society consensus workshops.

Keywords: Hemostasis in cirrhosis; Invasive procedures in cirrhosis.