Outcomes after implementing restrictive blood transfusion criteria in extremely premature infants.

OBJECTIVE

To assess mortality and morbidities in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants before and after changing to a restrictive blood transfusion guideline (RTG).

STUDY

DESIGN

This is a large retrospective study comparing outcomes of a liberal transfusion guideline (LTG) and RTG in VLBW infants admitted to a large single neonatal intensive care unit. Blood and platelet transfusion details, mortality, and diagnoses of frequently diagnosed morbidities were collected for each infant.

RESULTS

Mortality was similar between RTG and LTG groups (6.8% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.755). Rates of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), sepsis and the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) within 48 h of a PRBC transfusion were significantly lower with RTG (p < 0.05). Chronic lung disease was similar between groups.

CONCLUSION

RTG are safe compared to LTG, and are associated with lower rates of PVL, ROP, transfusion-associated cases of NEC and sepsis.