INDICATIONS FOR, AND MONITORING OF PLATEL ET TRANSFUSION IN SURGERY

Surgery, after hematology, is the biggest consumer of homologous plate let concentrates. Platelet transfusion is indicated to prevent or cont rol bleeding associated with deficiencies in platelet number or functi on. In surgery, general patterns (in function of pre-surgery platelet count) can be adopted in most of the indications for platelets. In eme rgency situations, and in some particular cases (related to the patien t, the type of operation, etc.), the transfusion procedure depends on the team's experience, the results of the available clinical and biolo gical tests, and the drugs. Strict monitoring is required during the t ransfusion procedure. The efficacy of the transfusion must be controll ed 1 h and 24 hours after the transfusion, and a number of factors mus t be assessed, namely the immunological impact of the transfusion (on red blood cells, leukocytes and platelets) and the occurrence of infec tious diseases transmitted via transfusion. In addition, for a possibl e future transfusion, a strategy must be proposed.