title: When do we transfuse cryoprecipitate?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 2001 National Health and Medical Research Council/Australasian Society of Blood Transfusion Clinical Practice Guidelines for cryoprecipitate are being updated, and cryoprecipitate has been incorporated into new Patient Blood Management modules.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This clinical audit sought to clarify current cryoprecipitate use in Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory; assess adherence to guidelines; and gain insights into deviations from recommended practice. This information can be utilised in updating guidelines to make them more relevant, to identify areas for clinician education and to form a baseline of practice prior to release of the 2011 guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participating institutions were invited to audit up to 30 consecutive episodes of cryoprecipitate transfusion over an 11-month period in 2008. The audits were conducted using a standardised pro forma and involved review of patient records. These were collated electronically using algorithms to determine alignment versus non-alignment with guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cryoprecipitate is used in a variety of situations with surgery accounting for the highest volume. Twenty-six per cent (26%) of transfusions were aligned with 2001 guidelines rising to 61% with a modified fibrinogen trigger. Fibrinogen levels did not appear to dictate all clinical decisions regarding cryoprecipitate use perhaps owing to the acuity of many cases. Additional bleeding risk together with low fibrinogen levels (e.g. thrombocytopenic patients) may contribute to empiric cryoprecipitate use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results highlight discrepancies between guidelines and practice, providing rationale for the update of the guidelines that is currently underway. Cryoprecipitate has attendant risks, and it is appropriate that transfusion be restricted to situations with good evidence or sound principles to underpin use.
authors: Transfusion Medicine, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Anderson
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Glazebrook
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Cutts
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Stevenson
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Bielby
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Borosak
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; C026912:cryoprecipitate coagulum; D005169:Factor VIII; D005340:Fibrinogen
keywords: audit; cryoprecipitate; fibrinogen; guideline; transfusion