Low-dose surgical prophylaxis: Optimization of use of World Federation of Hemophilia Humanitarian Aid donated clotting factor concentrates to developing countries.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients with hemophilia (PWH) might need surgical interventions during the course of their lives. Such medical interventions pose hemostatic challenges and requests infusion of clotting factor concentrates (CFCs) during peri and postoperative for variable periods to prevent bleeding and until complete wound healing. Access to CFCs to PWH living in resource limited settings is usually a challenge which makes surgical interventions either risky or not practical. Recently World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) started a humanitarian aid program to channel CFCs into resource limited countries and which allowed the possibility to perform surgical interventions for PWH in these countries. AIM OF WORK To study safety and efficacy of using lower doses of CFCs for surgical prophylaxis. METHODS: Review of literature and our center experience to demonstrate safety and efficacy of low dose surgical prophylaxis using CFCs RESULTS: Several elements can help using lower doses of CFCs for surgical prophylaxis in resource limited setting. These elements include severity of hemophilia, type of surgical procedure, the use of hemostatic surgical techniques, the type of CFCs, the mode of infusion of CFCs and finally the use of adjunctive therapies CONCLUSION: Management of surgical procedures for PWH in a multidisciplinary specialized hemophilia treatment centers with proper understanding of hemostatic and surgical challenges of the procedure can allow for safe and effective use of lower doses of CFCs for surgical prophylaxis.