Prothrombin complex concentrate (Beriplex P/N) in severe bleeding: experience in a large tertiary hospital
2008

Using Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for Severe Bleeding

Sample size: 24 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Bruce David, Nokes Tim JC

Primary Institution: Derriford Hospital

Hypothesis

Can prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) effectively treat severe bleeding in various clinical settings?

Conclusion

PCC is valuable in reversing anticoagulant effects and controlling bleeding in surgical patients.

Supporting Evidence

  • Partial or complete haemostasis was achieved in 14 out of 18 cases (77.8%).
  • 12 out of 24 patients (50%) died during the study, with two-thirds of deaths unrelated to bleeding.
  • Considerable reduction in administration of other blood products was seen after PCC administration.

Takeaway

Doctors used a special medicine called PCC to help patients who were bleeding a lot, and it worked well for many of them.

Methodology

Retrospective analysis of 30 patients who received PCC, assessing outcomes and blood product use.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to retrospective design and lack of control group.

Limitations

The study was retrospective, and outcomes cannot be solely attributed to PCC due to other treatments given.

Participant Demographics

Mean age of participants was 68.5 years, with a range from 41 to 82 years.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/cc6987

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