Tuscan study on the appropriateness of fresh-frozen plasma transfusion (TuSAPlaT).

INTRODUCTION The considerable increase in the consumption of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) recorded in 2002 in the Region of Tuscany made it necessary to check the appropriateness of the use of this blood component in all transfusion facilities in the Tuscan network. MATERIALS AND METHODS From July 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005, the Regional Blood Transfusion Coordinating Centre carried out an audit on the clinical use of FFP in the 40 structures included in the Tuscan transfusion network. The study had two complementary parts: a review of guidelines on the use of FFP and the involvement of Hospital Transfusion Committees in evaluating the outcome of the audit and in the consequent local policy decisions and in educating clinicians. RESULTS The data from all 40 of the regional transfusion structures were analysed. The audit, which was initially retrospective, gradually became prospective. The percentage clinical use of FFP decreased, compared to 2002, in each of the 3 years of the study: a) 2003: - 8.92%; b) 2004: - 2.11%; c) 2005: -1.97%. The inappropriate requests for plasma decreased from 27% to 22.7% of the total. It was possible to classify the inappropriate requests for plasma on the basis of homogeneous, regionally defined criteria. The most frequent inappropriate indication (60.7% of the total) was the use of plasma in the case of haemorrhage in patients with a normal PT and/or PTT or unavailable results. Each hospital revised its own guidelines between 2004 and 2005 and the Hospital Transfusion Committees set up appropriate educational and behavioural interventions. CONCLUSIONS The capacity of transfusion facilities to make data on the use of blood components available systematically and continuously is an essential feature of clinical governance; systematic clinical auditing increases the level of appropriate behaviours in the transfusion sector, contemporaneously contributing to self-sufficiency in transfusion products, and may direct research towards those clinical settings at greatest risk of inappropriate use of transfusion therapy with FFP.