Safety and Efficacy of Packed Red Blood Cell Transfusions at Different Doses in Very Low Birth Weight Infants. Issue 2 (1st April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mallett, Lea H.; Govande, Vinayak P.; Shetty, Ashita; Beeram, Madhava R.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings. Volume 29:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 128
• Page End: 130
• Publication Date: 2016-04-01
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Medicine -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.005
• DOI: 10.1080/08998280.2016.11929387
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-8280

Abstract

Abstract : This double-blinded, randomized, crossover study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of 20 mL/kg aliquots of packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions versus 15 mL/kg aliquot transfusions in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with anemia. The study enrolled 22 hemodynamically stable VLBW infants requiring PRBC transfusions, with a mean gestational age of 25.7 ± 2.2 weeks and birth weight of 804 ± 261 g. Each infant was randomized to receive one of two treatment sequences: 15 mL/kg followed by 20 mL/kg or 20 mL/kg followed by 15 mL/kg. The infants were monitored during and after transfusions, and the efficacy and safety of the treatments were evaluated. Infants had higher posttransfusion hemoglobin (13.2 g/dL vs 11.8 g/dL, P < 0.01) and hematocrit levels (38.6 g/dL vs 34.4 g/dL, P < 0.01) following 20 mL/kg PRBC transfusions when compared to 15 mL/kg transfusions. There were no differences in the incidence of tachypnea, hepatomegaly, edema, hypoxia, necrotizing enterocolitis, or vital sign instability between groups. In conclusion, high-volume PRBC transfusions (20 mL/kg) were associated with higher posttransfusion hemoglobin and hematocrit levels but no adverse effects. Higher-volume transfusions may reduce the need for multiple transfusions and therefore the number of donors the infant is exposed to.