Changing patterns of red blood cell transfusion in very low birth weight infants.

摘要: Abstract OBJECTIVE: Anemia develops in increasing numbers of critically ill very low birth weight (VLBW) infants who survive the neonatal period, and they receive multiple red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. Despite their need for prolonged medical treatment, we hypothesized that VLBW presently fewer RBC transfusions as a result growing awareness transfusion risks improvement care. METHODS: practices clinical outcomes with weights 1.5 kg or less were analyzed retrospectively three selected years: 1982, before human immunodeficiency virus; 1989, surfactant availability; 1993, erythropoietin approval. RESULTS: Progressive declines transfusions, donor exposures, volumes occurred concurrently decreases morbidity mortality rates. Transfusions per infant (mean ± SD) declined from 7.0 7.4 1982 to 5.0 5.8 1989 2.3 2.7 1993 (p CONCLUSIONS: Overall administration has decreased markedly, most likely because factors. Because are given weighing 1 first weeks life, therapeutic strategies should focus on this group during critical period. The temporal changes observed patterns emphasize importance including concurrent controls future studies evaluating interventions. (J Pediatr 1996;129:680-7)