Bleeding after cardiac surgeries holds risk of mortality and morbidity in pediatrics. This systematic review aimed to evaluate postoperative blood loss and blood transfusion requirements for pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) priming.

In 2024, the search reviewed four databases on randomized trials (RCTs) examining the impact of FFP prime intervention on 24-h postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in pediatric cardiac surgeries. The journals were appraised using Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation checklists, and random effects models estimated the effect size with a 95% confidence interval. Significance and study heterogeneity were indicated by p-values and I².

Of the screened 2070 articles, one high-quality and four moderate-quality RCTs involving 354 children were identified. No significant reduction in 24-h mean postoperative blood loss was found following FFP priming (mean difference MD: −0.78, 95% CI [-3.3 to 1.75], p = .55) in general pediatric cardiac surgeries. However, subgroup analysis showed significant decrease in blood loss for younger children (<7 months) or those with lower body weight (<6 kg). There was no significant difference between groups in FFP (MD: −0.19, 95% CI [-0.42 to 0.05], p = .13) or red blood cell transfusion (MD: −0.25, 95% CI [-0.51 to 0.02], p = .07).

Administering FFP as prime fluid in cardiac surgery did not reduce postoperative bleeding in general pediatric patients, but younger children (<7 months) and those with lower weight (<6 kg) were the subjects who benefited from the FFP priming before surgery.