Impacts of COVID-19 and elective surgery cancellations on platelet supply and utilization in the Canadian Province of British Columbia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic raised concerns about the vulnerability of platelet supply and the uncertain impact of the resumption of elective surgery on utilization. We report the impact of COVID-19 on platelet supply and utilization across a large, integrated healthcare system in the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Historical platelet use in BC by indication was compiled for fiscal year 2010/2011-2019/2020. Platelet collections, initial daily inventory and disposition data were assessed pre-COVID-19 (1 April 2018-15 March 2020) and for two COVID-19 time periods in BC: a shutdown phase with elective surgeries halted (16 March-17 May, 2020) and a renewal phase when elective surgeries resumed (18 May-27 September 2020); comparisons were made provincially and for individual health authorities. RESULTS: Historically, elective surgeries accounted for 10% of platelets transfused in BC. Initial daily supplier inventory increased from baseline during both COVID-19 periods (93/90 units vs. 75 units pre-COVID-19). During the shutdown phase, platelet utilization decreased 10.4% (41 units/week; p < 0.0001), and remained significantly decreased during the ensuing renewal period. Decreased platelet utilization was attributed to fewer transfusions during the shutdown phase followed by a decreased discard/expiry rate during the renewal phase compared to pre-COVID-19 (15.2% vs. 18.9% pre-COVID-19; p < 0.0001). Differences in COVID-19 platelet utilization patterns were noted between health authorities. CONCLUSION: Decreased platelet utilization was observed in BC compared to pre-COVID-19, likely due to a transient reduction in elective surgery as well as practice and policy changes triggered by pandemic concerns.

Reversal of direct oral anticoagulants: a practical approach.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have at least noninferior efficacy compared with other oral anticoagulants and have ancillary benefits, including overall better safety profiles, lack of the need for routine monitoring, rapid onset of action, and ease of administration. Reversal of these agents may be indicated in certain situations such as severe bleeding and for perioperative management. DOAC-associated bleeding should be risk stratified: patients with moderate or severe bleeding should have the DOAC discontinued and reversal strategies should be considered. Laboratory testing has limited utility in the acute management of bleeding; thrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time may be useful for excluding clinically relevant levels of dabigatran. Prothrombin time is potentially useful for rivaroxaban and edoxaban, but calibrated anti-Xa assays are optimal for determining clinically relevant levels of factor Xa inhibitors. Because specific reversal agents are not widely available, supportive care and interventions for local hemostasis remain the cornerstones of therapy in the patient with DOAC-associated bleeding. Nonspecific reversal agents should be considered only in the event of severe bleeding because their efficacy is unknown, and they are associated with risk of thrombosis. Recent results from phase 3/4 studies demonstrate efficacy for an antidote to dabigatran (idarucizumab, a monoclonal antibody fragment with specificity for dabigatran) and an antidote to factor Xa inhibitors (andexanet alfa, a recombinant and inactive form of factor Xa that binds inhibitors). A universal reversal agent (ciraparantag) for many anticoagulants, including the DOACs, shows promise in results from phase 1 and 2 studies.