The role of exchange transfusion in the management of low-birth-weight infants with and without severe respiratory distress syndrome. I. Initial observations.
Exchange transfusions within the first 8 hours of life, as an adjunct to conventional therapy, were evaluated in two groups of infants: (1) infants with birth weights of less than 1,250 gm without severe respiratory distress and (2) infants of any birth weight with evidence of severe respiratory distress syndrome. A total of 63 infants were studied in Group 1. Infants who received an exchange transfusion had a survival rate of 86% as contrasted with a survival rate of 57% in the control group (p less than 0.01). A total of 82 infants were studied in Group 2. Infants who received an exchange transfusion had a 59% survival rate as compared with a 39% survival rate for the control group (p less than 0.04). The mechanism by which early exchange transfusion improves survival rate is unknown.
D001724:Birth Weight; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; D006400:Hematocrit; D006452:Hemoglobinometry; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000628:therapy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen