Don’t routinely transfuse fresh frozen plasma, vitamin K, or platelets to reverse abnormal tests of coagulation in patients with cirrhosis prior to abdominal paracentesis, endoscopic variceal band ligation, or any other minor invasive procedures.

Routine tests of coagulation do not reflect bleeding risk in patients with cirrhosis and bleeding complications of these procedures are rare.

 

Sources:

Northup PG, et al. Coagulation in liver disease: a guide for the clinician. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013 Sep;11(9):1064-74. PMID: 23506859.

Tripodi A, et al. The coagulopathy of chronic liver disease. N Engl J Med. 2011 Jul 14;365(2):147-56. PMID: 21751907.

Yates SG, et al. How do we transfuse blood components in cirrhotic patients undergoing gastrointestinal procedures? Transfusion. 2016 Apr;56(4):791-8. PMID: 26876945.