The fibrinogen concentration simulator is a theoretical mathematical tool to model the effect of three haemostatic agents containing fibrinogen (therapeutic plasma, cryoprecipitate and fibrinogen concentrate) on plasma fibrinogen levels. This simulator is not a tool for clinical application but is intended for use as an educational tool. The development of this app was supported by CSL Behring and is based on a published mathematical model (Collins PW et al, Br. J. Anaesth. (2014) 113(4):585-595).
There are three options for fibrinogen supplementation: therapeutic plasma, cryoprecipitate and fibrinogen concentrate. Each of these haemostatic agents is prepared differently and has a different fibrinogen concentration.
Within the Fibrinogen Concentration Simulator app, there are two educational tools which simulate the effects of these haemostatic agents to answer the following questions: “How much therapeutic plasma, cryoprecipitate or fibrinogen concentrate is needed to achieve a specified target fibrinogen level?” and “What is the resultant fibrinogen level for a specified amount of haemostatic agent?”
The purpose of the app is for educational purposes to inform physicians of the theoretical feasibility of achieving a target level of fibrinogen, or the theoretical effect of a specified amount of haemostatic agent on a plasma fibrinogen level. The tools also highlight the lack of effect if the simulated plasma fibrinogen level approaches the concentration of fibrinogen in the haemostatic agent itself.
This theoretical tool does not account for clinical realities such as the rate of blood loss, administration of fluid replacement and haemostatic components such as platelets and other variables. Therefore the app should not be used to determine doses in any clinical settings.
The Fibrinogen Concentration Simulator does show the theoretical relationships between amount and plasma fibrinogen level achieved, for therapeutic plasma, cryoprecipitate and fibrinogen concentrate.