“We sought to analyze published information on nine aspects of transfusion practice in neonatal intensive care units.” Christensen et al (2014).
Reference:
Christensen, R.D., Carroll, P.D. and Josephson, C.D. (2014) Evidence-based advances in transfusion practice in neonatal intensive care units. Neonatology. 106(3), p.245-53.
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Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Transfusions to neonates convey both benefits and risks, and evidence is needed to guide wise use. Such evidence is accumulating, but more information is needed to generate sound evidence-based practices.
OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze published information on nine aspects of transfusion practice in neonatal intensive care units.
METHODS: We assigned ‘categories of evidence’ and ‘recommendations’ using the format of the United States Preventive Services Task Force of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
RESULTS: The nine practices studied were: (1) delayed clamping or milking of the umbilical cord at preterm delivery – recommended, high/substantial A; (2) drawing the initial blood tests from cord/placental blood from very low birth weight (VLBW, <1,500 g) infants at delivery – recommended, moderate/moderate B; (3) limiting phlebotomy losses of VLBW infants – recommended, moderate/substantial B; (4) selected use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents to prevent transfusions – recommended, moderate/moderate-moderate/small B, C; (5) using platelet mass, rather than platelet count, in platelet transfusion decisions – recommended, moderate/small C; (6) permitting the platelet count to fall to <20,000/µl in ‘stable’ neonates before transfusing platelets – recommended, low/small I; (8) permitting the platelet count to fall to <50,000/µl in ‘unstable’ neonates before transfusing platelets – recommended, moderate/small C, and (9) not performing routine coagulation test screening on every VLBW infant – recommended, moderate/small C.
CONCLUSIONS: We view these recommendations as dynamic, to be revised as additional evidence becomes available. We predict this list will expand as new studies provide more information to guide best transfusion practices.
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