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Empiric red cell transfusion in asymptomatic preterm infants
Author(s) -
Meyer J,
Sive A,
Jacobs P
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1993.tb12510.x
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , pediatrics , failure to thrive , low birth weight , birth weight , neonatal intensive care unit , intensive care medicine , pregnancy , surgery , biology , genetics
In a prospective randomized trial, asymptomatic very low‐birth‐weight infants in a neonatal intensive care unit were either electively transfused with red cells to maintain capillary haematocrit greater than 0.35 l/l (group 1; n = 9), or were not transfused (group 2; n= 10). Individuals from both groups were excluded if they subsequently received non‐elective transfusions, necessitated by their clinical condition. Electively transfused infants gained weight more rapidly than their non‐transfused counterparts, but the duration of hospitalization was not shortened. Criteria of morbidity, such as patent ductus murmurs, apnoea and failure to thrive, were similar in both groups. We conclude that in the absence of clinical indications, transfusion to achieve a haematocrit greater than 0.35 l/l as an empiric procedure, improves weight gain but the risks of transfusion are likely to outweigh the benefits.