A strategy to conserve personal protective equipment while performing therapeutic plasma exchange in a patient with <scp>COVID</scp>‐19

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has led to a major pandemic. While vaccine development moves forward, optimal treatment continues to be explored. Efforts include an ever‐expanding number of clinical trials along with newly proposed experimental and off‐label investigational therapies; one of which is therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). There have been a number of publications on TPE use as adjunctive therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), but no prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been completed. This article critically appraises the current available evidence on TPE as a treatment modality for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.

Section: Covid‐19 and Therapeutic Plasma Exchangementioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Covid‐19 and Therapeutic Plasma Exchangementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Additional Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The use of therapeutic plasma exchange as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019: A critical appraisal of the current evidence

Kelley

Fang

et al. 2021

“…An innovative apheresis method that allows apheresis nurses to work outside of the patient's room was reported and can be considered. 14 Since the skills of apheresis nurses are very unique and training to master all apheresis procedures takes several months, there are no quick replacements of them as same as other specialized healthcare providers. Therefore, protecting them by gown and gloves in addition to masks and face guards may be necessary when treating COVID-19 patients.…”

Section: Staffingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The report from ASFA COVID‐19 taskforce: Considerations and prioritization on apheresis procedures during the SARS‐CoV‐2 coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic

Yamada

Hofmann

Witt

et al. 2021

Self Cite

Since vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus started, the trajectory of patient numbers infected with the virus has improved once; however, variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged and more people have been infected; therefore, pandemic status is still far from resolution. Government and social efforts to prevent coronavirus infection continue in most states in the US and globally even after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared some restriction relief for fully vaccinated people in March 2021. Healthcare institutions and various professional organizations have developed guidelines or policies to prevent the spread of these coronaviruses in the setting of apheresis. In this report, the issues that apheresis services may encounter under the current COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease) pandemic will be discussed with potential strategies that can be adapted for efficient and optimum use of apheresis resources.

“…Preprocedure screening of all patients with the Covid-19 screening questionnaire (CSQ), Covid-19 screening,F I G U R E 2 Proposed algorithm for referral and stratification of cases for TPE during the COVID-19 pandemic in SEATPEC countries for neurological indicationswhere possible with SARS-coV-2 PCR (preferable) or RTK antigen is important. Additionally, masking of patients where possible, limiting caregiver visits and post TPE patient surveillance for Covid-19 is important 22. 3.2.5 | Consensus recommendation 5Operators should receive adequate training on the level of PPE including donning and doffing techniques required for Covid-19 suspected or positive patients with training on protocols for post-TPE sanitization of machines (as per manufacturer requirements).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Covid‐19 on the therapeutic plasma exchange service within the South East Asian region: Consensus recommendations and global perspectives

Shanthi

Hiew

Siritho

et al. 2021

Introduction: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for neuroimmunological disorders has played an increasingly important role within the Southeast Asian (SEA) region. The South East Asian Therapeutic Plasma exchange Consortium (SEATPEC) was formed in 2018 to promote education and research on TPE within the region. The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic has produced challenges for the development and expansion of this service.Methodology: A qualitative and semi-quantitative questionnaire-based survey was conducted by SEATPEC member countries from January to June 2020 (Phase 1) and then from July 2020 to January 2021 in (Phase 2) to assess the impact of Covid-19 on regional TPE. Objectives: The study's main objectives were to explore the challenges experienced and adaptations/adjustments taken by SEATPEC countries in order to continue safe and efficient TPE during the Covid-19 pandemic.