Will prothrombin complex concentrate replace plasma in cardiac surgical bleeding in North America?

There is increasing interest in four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) for treatment of acquired coagulopathic bleeding in cardiac surgery. Plasma, traditionally the treatment of choice, has a different composition compared with 4F-PCC. This review summarizes the current evidence.

Because of its rapid reconstitution at the bedside and small administration volume, the use of 4F-PCC over plasma is rising - particularly with new clinical trial evidence suggesting 4F-PCC has efficacy and safety advantages. This is reinforced by mechanistic evidence supporting the role of 4F-PCC in normalizing or improving thrombin generation, an important aspect of secondary hemostasis often impacted in cardiac surgery. Four randomized controlled trials contribute to the human evidence base for the use of 4F-PCC in cardiac surgery. FARES-II, the largest study to date, demonstrated that 4F-PCC has improved hemostatic efficacy and a superior safety profile compared with plasma. Three additional studies are underway to confirm these findings.

The use of 4F-PCC for the treatment of coagulopathic bleeding in cardiac surgery is supported by high-quality clinical evidence. Several unanswered questions remain regarding sex- and race-specific efficacy, the mechanism through which 4F-PCC may reduce serious adverse events, and its use in procedures that were under-represented in existing clinical trials.