Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026
11:50
Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
27.5K
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Practices in Intensive Care Unit
Lakshmi Ranganathan1, Rema Menon2, Nagarajan Ramakrishnan1
1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Summary
Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a safe and effective treatment in the ICU. This study found TPE led to clinical improvement in 82% of patients, with common uses including sickle cell and myasthenia crisis.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Nephrology
- Immunology
Background:
- Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an extracorporeal procedure used to remove harmful substances from the plasma.
- Its application in intensive care units (ICUs) requires careful consideration of indications, practices, and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the indications, procedures, and patient outcomes associated with TPE in a tertiary care ICU setting.
- To analyze the types of replacement solutions used during TPE and their impact on patient recovery.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis was conducted on 56 patients who underwent TPE between May 2011 and August 2013.
- Data collected included patient demographics, diagnoses, indication categories, number of TPE sessions, and the volume and type of replacement solutions utilized.
Main Results:
- Category I indications accounted for 50% of TPE procedures, with an average of 3.32 sessions per patient.
- Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) was the most common replacement solution (62.9%). Clinical improvement was observed in 82% of patients, with an overall mortality rate of 12.5%.
- Adverse events like Transfusion Associated Acute Lung Injury (TRALI) led to TPE termination in three patients.
Conclusions:
- Therapeutic plasma exchange is a feasible and well-tolerated procedure in the ICU environment.
- TPE demonstrates favorable disease resolution and positive patient outcomes, particularly for conditions like sickle cell crisis and myasthenia gravis.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
03:02Measurement: Derived Units
54.2K
The International System of Units or SI system, by international agreement, has fixed measurement units for seven fundamental properties: length, mass, time, temperature, electric current, amount of substance, and luminosity. These are called the SI base units.
54.2K
02:06Social Exchange Theory
39.5K
We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003).
39.5K
03:38Measurement: Standard Units
78.1K
Every measurement provides three kinds of information: the size or magnitude of the measurement (a number), a standard of comparison for the measurement (a unit), and an indication of the uncertainty of the measurement. While the number and unit are explicitly represented when a quantity is written, the uncertainty is an aspect of the errors in the measurement results.
78.1K
01:20Gas Exchange and Transport
76.6K
Gas exchange, the intake of molecular oxygen (O2) from the environment and the outflow of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment, is necessary for cellular function. Gas exchange during respiration occurs largely via the movement of gas molecules along pressure gradients. Gas travels from areas of higher partial pressure to areas of lower partial pressure. In mammals, gas exchange occurs in the alveoli of the lungs, which are adjacent to capillaries and share a membrane with them.
76.6K
01:28Capillary Exchange
10.7K
The cardiovascular system's chief role is to disseminate gases, nutrients, waste, and other substances to the body's cells. Small molecules like gases, lipids, and lipid-soluble substances directly diffuse through capillary wall endothelial cell membranes. Glucose, amino acids, and ions, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride, use transporters for facilitated diffusion via membrane-specific channels. Glucose, ions, and bigger molecules may also pass through intercellular...
10.7K
00:58Sound Intensity
4.7K
The loudness of a sound source is related to how energetically the source is vibrating, consequently making the molecules of the propagation medium vibrate. To measure the loudness of a source, the physical quantity of interest is the intensity. This is defined as the energy emitted per unit of time per unit of area perpendicular to the sound wave's propagation direction. Since the total energy is greater if the source vibrates for a longer duration and over a larger area, dividing the...
4.7K