In this episode of End of Shift, Eric and Joe continue their discussion with Dr. Shannon Jackson, talking about blood types and donation as well as sickle cell disorders.

ONCE AGAIN, call 604-682-2344 (St. Paul’s Hospital) and you can reach a hematologist 24/7.

Most hospitals carry: pRBC, FFP, platelets and cryo. The Canadian Blood Services knows where all the products are, and the central transfusion registry in BC circulates products to areas of need and does so with minimal wastage. 

FFP is made from plasma which is separated from donor blood and frozen to minus 35°C to preserve it. Cryoprecipitate (cryo) is made from FFP which is frozen and repeatedly thawed in a laboratory to produce a source of concentrated clotting factors including Factor VIII, Factor XIII, von Willebrand factor and fibrinogen.

FFP can reverse the effect of warfarin because it contains substantial levels of vitamin K dependent clotting factors (II, VII, IX, X and protein C/S). FFP is indicated when a patient has MULTIPLE factor deficiencies and is BLEEDING.

Cryoprecipitate is indicated for the treatment of acquired fibrinogen deficiency or dysfibrinogenaemia, due to critical bleeding, an invasive procedure, trauma or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). It’s not ideal for specific factor replacement.

If you have no factor available, you can use FFP/cryo.

DONATE DONATE DONATE!

There is never too much blood – donated blood can also be used for non-clinical research.
You can donate every 8 weeks! There are very few exclusions to donating.

Go to Canadian Blood Services - www.blood.ca - to book your donation.

Dr. Shannon Jackson is a clinical hematologist and the medical director of the Provincial Adult Bleeding Disorder program based out of St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver.

Related Clinical Resource:
Treatment of Persons with Inherited Bleeding Disorders (PwIBD) in the Emergency Room
by Dr. Shannon Jackson, Michelle Bech