OasisLMS

Apheresis encompasses both cellular collections and therapeutic apheresis. Cellular collections involve utilizing apheresis technology to extract donor blood components from for the purposes of transfusion, hematopoietic progenitor cells for transplantation, and/or mononuclear cells for further manufacturing into cellular therapy products. Therapeutic apheresis applies apheresis technology to extract cellular or liquid blood components for the treatment of disease. The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) publishes evidence-based guidelines to assist practitioners to evaluate rationale and management of apheresis patients, and to additionally outline rudimentary aspects of the procedures. However, the guidelines are somewhat limited in that they only provided information for disease indications for which there is sufficient evidence in the literature to evaluate, and provide recommendations. Additionally, the guidelines provide minimal guidance with respect to procedural urgency, frequency or various specific technical aspects of the procedure. In this session. This session will discuss how to approach therapeutic apheresis consults with a clinical team, including situations when apheresis is not indicated, or in the setting of novel indications for which there may not be information in the guidelines. We will then present a series of cases that demonstrate the approach to the performance of apheresis in medically complex patients. Lastly, we will provide pearls on technical modifications of the procedures to enhance efficacy and/or patient safety.

 

This session offers 1.0 CME/CMLE credit.