Don’t transfuse plasma to correct a mildly elevated (<1.8) international normalized ratio (INR) or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) before a procedure.

A mildly elevated INR is not predictive of an increased risk of bleeding. Furthermore, transfusion of plasma has not been demonstrated to significantly change the INR value when the INR was only minimally elevated (<1.8).

 

Sources:

Abdel-Wahab OI, et al. Effect of fresh-frozen plasma transfusion on prothrombin time and bleeding in patients with mild coagulation abnormalities. Transfusion. 2006 Aug;46(8):1279-85. PMID: 16934060.

Estcourt L, et al. Prophylactic platelet transfusion for prevention of bleeding in patients with haematological disorders after chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 May 16;(5):CD004269. PMID: 22592695.

Szczepiorkowski ZM, et al. Transfusion guidelines: when to transfuse. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2013;2013:638-44. PMID: 24319244.