5 May 2020 (Tuesday) - BTLP - TACT Excercise

Bearing in mind I’d had an email telling me to get on with it I did another BTLP exercise this morning before the late shift.

I was presented with one case – a ninety-two year-old woman who required four units of blood for a surgical procedure the next day.

She grouped as O Rh(D) Negative with a positive antibody panel (positive in cells 1&2)

I requested antibody panels.

Both the IAT and enzyme panels were positive in cells 1, 2, 3 and 4. Anti-C and anti-D with the possibility of anti-Cw.

With none of the available units being Cw-typed I selected four units which were D-C-

I got the green light.

4 May 2020 (Monday) - Fritsma Factor Newsletter

The Fritsma Factor newsletter appeared in my in-box this morning. Like pretty much every other source of CPD, this one was focussing on COVID-19, but this one was of more than passing interest, with some interesting information on just how the haemostatic pathways are affected by the COVID-19 infection.

There was also talk of how the ISTH is having a virtual congress. Realistically the end of these international parties masquerading as scientific conferences is one of the good things that will come out of the pandemic – how much longer can these jollies be justified?

4 May 2020 (Monday) - Transfusion Evidence Alert Update

The Transfusion Evidence Library sent their update today. Usually a rather good source of CPD telling me what is up and coming in the world of transfusion medicine. But there is no denying that my heart sank when I read that this was a COVID-19 edition.

Far be it from be to downplay the pandemic, but for all that the world is in the grip of a virus the likes of which hasn’t been seen in a hundred years, the sorts of conditions with which I am professionally involved are still going on…

 

TOP ARTICLES

Hematologic, biochemical and immune biomarker abnormalities associated with severe illness and mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a meta-analysis
B Henry, et al. Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine 2020

Incidence of thrombotic complications in critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19
F Klok, et al. Thrombosis research 2020

Hypercoagulability of COVID-19 patients in Intensive Care Unit. A Report of Thromboelastography Findings and other Parameters of Hemostasis
M Panigada, et al. Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis 2020

The procoagulant pattern of patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome
M Ranucci, et al. Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis 2020

Attention should be paid to venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in the management of COVID-19
T Wang, et al. The Lancet 2020

ILROG Emergency Guidelines for Radiation Therapy of Hematological Malignancies During the COVID-19 Pandemic
J Yahalom, et al. Blood 2020

Points to consider in the preparation and transfusion of COVID-19 convalescent plasma
J Epstein, et al. Vox sanguinis 2020

COVID-19-Related Severe Hypercoagulability in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit for Acute Respiratory Failure
L Spiezia, et al. Thrombosis and haemostasis 2020

Prevention and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection: A Consensus Statement before Guidelines
Z Zhai, et al. Thrombosis and haemostasis 2020

HIGHLIGHTED ARTICLE RE: ISTH interim guidance to recognition and management of coagulopathy in COVID-19 S Akima,, et al. Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis