Which of the following is the MOST appropriate indication for the administration of fresh frozen plasma (FFP)?
Use of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) has increased tremendously in recent decades. Because transfusion of FFP carries risks similar to that of other blood products such as packed red blood cells (PRBCs), this increase in use (almost 2 million units are transfused annually) has raised concerns. In addition, many of the common clinical uses for FFP are empiric and not backed by controlled studies. Furthermore, alternative therapies that are more specific and/or may carry less risk of infection are available (recombinant factor VIII, factor IX) to substitute for other common clinical uses of FFP.
For these reasons national agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) have tried to provide guidelines and recommendations on the appropriate use of FFP in clinical practice. The only indications for...
