Baylor Scott and White Medical Center Round Rock Liberty Hill, Texas, United States
Background/Case Studies: Background: Fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) is commonly used to manage bleeding, though its short shelf life leads to significant waste. Thawed plasma (TP), with an extended usability of up to five days, has been introduced in some hospitals to reduce waste, optimize inventory, and maintain clinical effectiveness.
Study
Design/Methods: Study
Design/Methods: We evaluated whether switching from FFP to TP reduces plasma waste and cost while maintaining patient outcomes. This is a retrospective quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study design included a convenience sample of adult patients (≥18 years) who received plasma transfusions between October 2023 and March 2024 (FFP group) and between October 2024 and March 2025 (TP group). Data extracted from the electronic medical record included demographics, plasma usage, waste, cost (discarded unit acquisition cost plus labor), length of stay (LOS), and 30-day mortality. A hands-on time study estimated the labor costs for plasma preparation and relabeling. One-way ANOVA was used for continuous variables, and chi-square for categorical comparisons.This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Baylor Scott and White Health and University of Texas Medical Branch.
Results/Findings: Results/Findings: Ninety-eight patients (49 in each group) were analyzed, with no significant differences in demographics, including age and gender. Mean units transfused did not differ (2.24, ± 1.4 vs 2.10 ±1.14, p = 0.58). Waste-related cost rose modestly (+$121 over 6 months, p = 0.74).LOS mean are close (9.51±7.1 vs 8.55±6.1 p=.476). Thirty-day mortality was identical (22.4 % in both cohorts, p = 1.00 (Table 1). The findings support the hypothesis that TP is clinically equivalent to FFP in terms of usage and patient outcomes. However, the anticipated cost savings and waste reduction from TP implementation were not realized. It was noted that during the TP implementation, there was an increased demand for pre-thawing plasma before surgery, possibly due to providers being aware of the longer shelf-life of thawed plasma.
Conclusions:
Conclusion: TP is a clinically effective and safe alternative to FFP, with no significant differences in patient outcomes, use, or waste. Although cost savings were not achieved, it is possible that pre-thawing of plasma, given TP’s extended shelf-life, may have other benefits that make up for the minimal financial impact.
