Indications for red cell transfusions in pediatric patients

Transfusion and Apheresis Science : Official Journal of the World Apheresis Association : Official Journal of the European Society for Haemapheresis
Jill M CholetteNeil Blumberg

Abstract

Red cell transfusions are amongst the most common therapeutic procedures in seriously ill children, particularly in the inpatient setting. This is despite the fact that there is no evidence base for most clinical settings, with the exception of patients with hemoglobinopathies, particularly thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. Obviously exsanguinating hemorrhage and life threatening anemia are urgent indications for which no other therapeutic approach is currently available. Most transfusions are, however, given prophylactically to prevent the complications of hypoxia or hemodynamic stability, based upon expert opinion and a faith in the oxygen carrying capacity and beneficial hemodynamic properties of transfused red cells. The question confronting current day pediatric practice is to what extent transfused red cells prevent adverse events, other than in thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, as opposed to causing them. Do transfusions of red cells prevent organ failure, stroke, etc. or not? There is epidemiologic evidence in the adult randomized trial literature that liberal red cell transfusion likely causes more such adverse events than it prevents. The relevance of such studies to children, particularly neonates, is uncertain. ...Continue Reading

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