Feasibility and Safety of Home Blood Transfusion for Children With Advanced Stage Cancer: Experiences From a Single Institute.

Palliative home care for pediatric cancer patients has become increasingly common in Japan. Between April 2018 and July 2024, the Tokiwa Group provided home-based palliative care to 39 patients with advanced pediatric cancer. Among these, 16 patients received red blood cell and platelet transfusions, totaling 281 transfusions. A retrospective analysis revealed that blood and platelet transfusions can be performed at home as safely as in hospitals, with similarly low (2.1%) rates of adverse events. Increased use of home-based blood transfusions may further enhance quality of life for children with advanced stage cancer.