Should We Transfuse Platelets Prior to CVC Placement?

Critical Care Perspectives in Emergency Medicine

Central venous catheter (CVC) placement is common in critically ill patients for a variety of indications. Thrombocytopenia is also quite common in critically ill patients. Unfortunately, literature and guideline recommendations vary on the threshold for prophylactic platelet transfusion in patients undergoing a procedure. In this podcast we discuss a recent trial that evaluated prophylactic platelet transfusion in patients with severe thrombocytopenia undergoing CVC placement.