Imagine you've had a serious accident or are bleeding heavily after surgery. Sometimes, just giving blood as usual isn't enough. Especially if your blood doesn't clot properly, your doctor may decide to give you a special treatment called FFP. You might be a little scared when you hear the name. But don't worry. Today, we'll talk about what FFP is, why it's given, and everything you need to know about it in a very simple way.
What is FFP (Fresh Frozen Plasma)?
Simply put, FFP is the yellowish liquid portion that remains after removing cellular components such as red blood cells and white blood cells from a person's donated blood. This is what we call plasma .
This plasma maintains the volume of our blood. It also contains special proteins called "clotting factors" that help stop bleeding when we get injured.
So, if someone is deficient in one or more of these clotting factors and is bleeding excessively, FFP is given to restore the lost blood volume and replenish the depleted clotting factors.
This is called "Fresh Frozen" Plasma because after the plasma is separated from a blood donation, it is deep frozen within 8 hours at a temperature of -18 degrees Celsius or lower to preserve the valuable clotting factors it contains.
Are there other names for this?
Yes, doctors can use other names when talking about this treatment. Those names refer to the method used to preserve it. For example, there are names like PF24, PF24RT24.
Don't worry too much about these names and technical details. Your doctor will choose the right type of plasma that is right for your condition and contains the clotting factors you need.
Who needs FFP treatment?
FFP is not a treatment for everyone who bleeds. It is usually used in specific cases where other treatments have not worked. Here are some of the main situations where FFP may be needed:
- Deficiencies in blood clotting factors: When someone with congenital deficiencies in blood clotting factors, such as hemophilia, bleeds excessively.
- For those taking Warfarin: Warfarin is a blood thinner. If someone taking this medication starts to bleed, it is usually controlled by giving vitamin K. However, if vitamin K does not have a quick effect, FFP may be given as a supportive treatment .
- In a condition called TTP (Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura): This is a very rare condition. In this condition, dangerous blood clots form in the body. By giving FFP, these patients are given a missing enzyme.
- Excessive bleeding: When a large amount of blood is lost from the body at once due to a major accident, surgery, or other reason, FFP is given as part of the blood transfusion process.
How is FFP provided?
This treatment is usually done in a hospital. The frozen FFP bag is thawed to room temperature before being injected into your body. The process is as follows:
1. Inserting a cannula: A doctor or nurse will insert a cannula (IV line) into a vein in your arm.
2. Giving FFP: When the FFP bag is connected to this cannula, the plasma slowly enters your body through your vein.
3. Monitoring: During this time, your vital signs , such as heart rate and blood pressure, will be monitored continuously. Blood tests, such as PT/INR and PTT, may also be done to check how well your blood is clotting.
4. Dosage: One FFP bag (unit) contains about 200-250 ml. It takes about 30 minutes to give it to the body. Depending on the amount of blood loss you have, your doctor will decide how many FFP bags you need and for how long.
What are the risks and complications of FFP?
As with any medical treatment, there are some very small risks involved in administering FFP. But doctors are well aware of these risks and take every precaution to prevent them. And because every bag of donated blood is rigorously tested, the risk of infectious diseases is now much lower.
| Risk/Complication | Simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Allergic reactions | The immune system responds to the plasma entering the body. This can cause minor symptoms such as skin rashes and itching. |
| Infections | There is a very small chance of contracting a virus from the donor's blood. However, this is very rare as all blood units donated by blood banks in Sri Lanka are rigorously tested. |
| TRALI (Transfusion-related acute lung injury) | This is a very rare but serious condition that can cause swelling in the lungs and difficulty breathing. |
| TACO (Transfusion-associated circulatory overload) | The circulatory system feels a greater burden due to the excessive amount of fluid (plasma) entering the body at once. This can lead to increased blood pressure and fluid filling the lungs. |
What happens after treatment and when should you seek medical advice?
The time it takes for you to recover depends on the reason for the FFP. Usually, you will start to feel a little better about a day after treatment. It is very important to get plenty of rest .
Sometimes, some side effects may occur even after you go home from the hospital. So be careful about the following conditions.
| Status | What to do |
|---|---|
| If you have these symptoms, talk to your doctor. | |
| These can usually be signs of an allergy. It is important to inform your doctor. |
| If you have these symptoms, go to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately. | |
| These may be signs of a serious condition such as TRALI or TACO. These can occur within the first 6 hours after treatment is given. It is essential to seek treatment immediately without wasting time. |
Take-Home Message
- FFP is a very important medical treatment that can save lives in cases of severe bleeding.
- This mainly involves restoring the blood clotting factors and lost blood volume to the body.
- This treatment is provided in a hospital and under medical supervision, so there is no need to be unnecessarily afraid.
- As with every medical treatment, there are minor risks, but doctors are prepared to manage them.
- If you develop a serious symptom, such as difficulty breathing, after treatment, go to the hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
- If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, never hesitate to discuss it with your doctor.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න