Thrombocytopenia in a septic ICU patient. Although recent cytostatic therapy could have been the reason of the low platelet count at ICU admission (48 × 10⁹/L), sepsis from an infected lower arm wound was responsible for the low platelet count. Causative therapy of sepsis, and thereby of thrombocytopenia, consisted of antibiotic therapy and surgical source control. Transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), prothrombin complex (PCC), and 4 therapeutic platelet concentrates (each containing 2-4 × 10¹¹ platelets per unit) were given to allow the surgical treatment. (Four-factor PCCs are used in some European centers to improve hemostasis, especially if the patient does not tolerate transfusion of large fluid volumes. This differs from current medical practice in North America.) After the source of sepsis could have been controlled, the platelet count returned to normal without any further measures (A). INR, international normalized ratio; sec, seconds. (B) Operative site during debridement of the infected right forearm injury at an earlier (top) and a later (bottom) time point of surgery.