The Cryopreserved vs. Liquid Platelets Trial

For logistic reasons and in order to use this scarce resource optimally, liquid-stored platelets are not stored in smaller hospitals, or in deployed military hospitals. Patients in these hospitals therefore currently have limited or no access to platelet transfusion. Cryopreservation of platelets is a promising technology that would allow smaller hospitals to provide platelet transfusions, reduce overall platelet wastage, and possibly produce better patient outcomes through more effective haemostasis. This is a phase III multicentre blinded randomised controlled clinical non-inferiority trial of cryopreserved platelets vs. conventional liquid-stored platelets for the management of surgical bleeding. The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of cryopreserved platelets, compared to conventional liquid-stored platelets, for the management of surgical bleeding. This trial will recruit cardiac surgical patients deemed to be at high risk of surgical bleeding and who may potentially require transfusion of platelets. It is estimated to require 808 high-risk cardiac surgical patients to be recruited, to obtain 202 patients who receive transfused study platelets for surgical bleeding. The study will recruit patients in Australian tertiary hospitals.The study hypothesis is that cryopreserved platelets will be at least as effective as conventional liquid-stored platelets in the treatment of active bleeding due to surgery.