Predicting red blood cell transfusions in very low birth weight infants based on clinical risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical factors most predictive of red blood cell transfusion in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.


METHODS
Retrospective review of VLBW infants cared for at a single level III NICU during a two year period, n = 199.


RESULTS
Overall transfusion requirement was 4.6 +/- 6.2 transfusions/infant/hospital course. Length of hospital stay, days of mechanical ventilation, requirement for dopamine support, birth weight, initial hematocrit, periventricular leukomalacia and necrotizing enterocolitis all independently correlated with number of transfusions and donors. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and patent ductus arteriosus were associated with donor but not transfusion number.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data characterize the population of VLBW infants with the greatest blood transfusion and donor requirement. Further investigation is needed to target this population for interventions to reduce blood exposure.
Paul
D A
DA
Section of Neonatology, Medical Center of Delaware, Newark.
Pearlman
S A
SA
Leef
K H
KH
Stefano
J L
JL
D000751:Anemia, Neonatal / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003691:Delaware; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D016014:Linear Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies