Practical Considerations of Platelet Transfusions
Program Code: 5330-TC
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM (ET)

MODERATOR
David Stroncek, MD, Department of Transfusion Medicine, CC

SPEAKERS
David Stroncek, MD, Department of Transfusion Medicine, CC
Paolo Rebulla, MD, Foundation Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy

DESCRIPTION
The event will cover practical issues in platelet transfusion. A lecture on product related issues will focus on a comparison of platelet concentrates prepared by apheresis vs those obtained with the platelet-rich plasma and the buffy-coat methods. Special attention will be given to the advantages offered by crystalloid platelet storage media. In addition, methods for bacterial detection and pathogen inactivation will be described. The lecture on recipient related issues will focus on patient categories requiring special attention for their platelet support, such as refractory onco-hematology patients, fetuses, newborns, surgical patients with co-morbidity and others. Discussion of future directions will include extended platelet storage, cold storage and use of thrombopoietin to increase apheresis yields.