Table 2

Treatment characteristics and complications associated with SVPE in the 20 patients with GBS

Characteristic/complicationValues
Treatment characteristics
 No of sessions of SVPE per patient*30 (24–42)
 Volume of plasma removed per patient*8.4 (6.3–9.6)
 Plasma exchange rate (mL/kg)*140 (110–175)
 Time between hospital admission and SVPE (days)*8 (5–10)
 Time between onset of weakness and start of SVPE (days)*8 (5–10)
 Need to stop SVPE due to poor haemodynamic tolerance0/20 (0%)
 Need for blood transfusion for anaemia1/20 (5%)
 Reduction of anticoagulant drug dose for bleeding3/20 (15%)
 Temporary withdrawal of antiplatelet drug for bleeding4/20 (20%)
 Increased anticoagulant drug dose to continue SVPE1/20 (5%)
 CVC blockade/replacement0/20 (0%)
Complications during SVPE
 Infection
  Leucocytosis7/20 (35%)
  CLABSI†6.25
  VAP†136.4
  CAUTI†40
  Severe sepsis1/20 (5%)
  Antimicrobial agents used6/20 (30%)
 Bleeding and coagulation
  Bleeding from CVC insertion site10/20 (50%)
  Bleeding from mucosal area3/20 (15%)
  Prolonged BT (BT >10 min)0/20 (0%)
  Prolonged CT (CT >15 min)0/20 (0%)
  Prolonged PT (PT >14 s)*6/20 (30%) (15–19 s)
  Prolonged aPTT (aPTT >40 s)*3/20 (15%) (51–240 s)
 Other complications
  Saline responsive hypotension10/20 (50%)
  Anaemia (Hb <8 g/L)2/20 (10%)
 Thrombocytopaenia
 (Platelet count < 1.5 x10^9/L)*		6/20 (30%)
(0.79-1.3 x10^9/L)
 Jaundice (serum
 bilirubin >1.2 mg/dL)		0/20 (0%)
 Renal impairment (serum
 creatinine >1.2 mg/dL)		0/20 (0%)
 Hyponatraemia (serum
 Na+ <135 mEq/L)*		1/20 (5%) (126 mEq/L)
 Hypocalaemia
 (serum K+ <3.5 mEq/L)*		3/20 (15%) (2.6–3.2 mEq/L)
 Hypoalbuminaemia (serum
 albumin >35 gm/L)*		4/20 (20%) (26–32 gm/L)
 Hypocalcaemia
 (serum Ca+ <2.2 mmol/L)*		3/20 (15%) (1.89–1.98 mmol/L)
 Hypomagnesaemia
 (serum Mg+ <75 mEq/L)*		1/20 (5%) (73 mEq/L)
 Hypersensitivity/transfusion
 reaction to FFP		4/20 (20%)

  • *Exact value or range, which is appropriate.

  • †Rate per 1000 device days.

  • APTT, activated partial thromboplastin time; BT, bleeding time; CT, clotting time; CAUTI, catheter-associated urinary tract infection; CLABSI, central line-associated bloodstream infection; CVC, central venous catheter; FFP, fresh frozen plasma; GBS, Guillain-Barré syndrome; Hb, haemoglobin; PT, prothrombin time; SVPE, small volume plasma exchange; VAP, ventilator-associated pneumonia.