Does red blood cell transfusion change the near infra red photoplethysmography signal in infants?
OBJECTIVE
Transfusion practices for neonates are controversial and based on limited scientific information. We examined the use of the plethysmographic volume pulse to assess anemia.


METHODS
We used near-infrared photoplethysmography (NIRP) to investigate signal strength parameters as area under the curve (AUC) and the first derivate of the amplitude (flux) in anemic infants before and after elective transfusion.


METHODS
Tertiary intensive care unit.


METHODS
Thirty-four neonates on day 25+/-15 of life with a pretransfusion hemoglobin level of 8+/-0.9 g/dl. Four infants were excluded for incomplete data.


METHODS
Transfusion of 10 ml packed red cells per kilogram body weight


RESULTS
The volume pulse signal was obtained with a sensor attached to the sole of the foot. After transfusion we found a significant decrease in number of bradycardia episodes per hour (0.35 vs. 0.16) and episodes of pulse oximeter desaturation less than 85% per hour (1.8 vs. 1.3) and a significant increase in daily weight gain (12+/-7 vs. 20+/-18 g), but neither of the microcirculatory parameters changed significantly (AUC 102+/-38 vs. 101+/-44; flux 435+/-160 vs. 405+/-120).


CONCLUSIONS
Even though infants were transfused at very low levels of hemoglobin with significant clinical effects, microcirculation assessed by NIRP seemed not be affected. Infrared photoplethysmographs present flow not only in the nutritive capillaries but mainly in the subpapillary plexus at a greater depth. This thermoregulatory flow seems not be affected by blood transfusions of anemic infants.
Seidl
Tamara
T
Division of Neonatology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Munich Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilian University, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81366 Munich, Germany.
Genzel-Boroviczény
Orsolya
O
Abicht
Jan-Michael
JM
Christ
Frank
F
D000751:Anemia, Neonatal / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008833:Microcirculation; D010477:Perfusion; D017156:Photoplethysmography / Q000379:methods*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric