Red blood cell transfusion in preterm infants with very low birth weight and/or gestational age less than 32 weeks
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Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the transfusion rate plus clinical and laboratory profile of very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants and/or gestational age less than 32 weeks after transfusion of red blood cells (RBC) in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a reference public hospital and describe the clinical course of these patients. Methods: Observational retrospective cohort study, in which 117 VLBW preterm infants and/or gestational ageless than 32 weeks, born between January 1st, 2017, and June 30th, 2019, were included. Continuous and categorical variables were analyzed according to blood transfusion. Results: From 117 preterm infants included in the study, 92.3% received transfusions, with the mean weight and gestational age at birth of this group being, respectively, 1,192.08g and 29.33 weeks. In patients undergoing transfusion, the mean hemoglobin and hematocrit values were 11,09g/dL and 31.64% and the average number of transfused RBC was 4.12 units. The group size discrepancy limited the association between the presentation of neonatal pathologies, however, it was found that the number of transfusions was significantly higher in VLBW preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retinopathy of the prematurity. Conclusion: The NICU has a high transfusion rate which cannot be justified by the clinical characteristics of the sample, being related to the fact that a well-established protocol for adequate neonatal transfusion support is not followed.
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