Effects of blood conservation on the incidence of anemia and transfusions in pediatric parapneumonic effusion: a hospitalist perspective.
BACKGROUND
Children with pneumonia may develop parapneumonic effusion (PNE). The associated inflammatory process and nutritional compromise can blunt erythropoesis. Traditional treatment for these children with PNE includes repeated phlebotomy and surgical intervention, resulting in ongoing blood losses. Blood transfusions used to treat acquired anemia are associated with multiple complications.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the effect of hospitalists' implementation of blood conservation guidelines (BCG) on the incidence of anemia and transfusion requirements in children with PNE.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study of hospitalized children with PNE.


METHODS
University affiliated Children's Hospital.


METHODS
Children who were admitted to the hospital with PNE and managed using BCG (Group I) were compared to simultaneous no intervention group (S) and historical no intervention group (H). Group (I) and (S) were admitted from year 2000 to 2004 and the Group (H) were admitted from year 1997 to 1999.


METHODS
Phlebotomy frequency and volume, measured hemoglobin (Hgb) levels, and the need for red blood transfusions.


RESULTS
Children in the BCG group (n = 24) compared to simultaneous no intervention group (n = 28) and historical no intervention group (n = 29) had lesser phlebotomy volumes (14 ± 8, 18 ± 14 and 69 ± 66 mL; P = 0.001), trend toward lesser Hgb drop (1.7 ± 1.4, 2.1 ± 1.2 and 2 ± 1.4 gm%; P ≤ 0.37), and lesser incidence of transfusion (8%, 18% and 31%; P = 0.11). Transfused children were younger (3.5 ± vs. 6.4 ± 4 years; P = 0.001) and had lower initial Hgb (9.9 ± 1 vs. 11.4 ± 1 gm%; P = 0.001), more phlebotomy (5.9 ± 7 vs. 1.1 ± 1 mL/kg., P = 0.001), longer hospitalization (18.7 ± 5 vs. 11.1 ± days; P = 0.001), and slightly higher (pediatric risk of mortality [PRISM]) scores (3.4 ± 5.7 vs. 1.6 ± 2.7; P = 0.25).


CONCLUSIONS
Implementing BCG lowers phlebotomy losses and the need for transfusion.
Hassan
Nabil E
NE
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, USA. nabil.hassan@devoschildrens.org
Winters
John
J
Winterhalter
Kim
K
Reischman
Diann
D
El-Borai
Yasser
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000740:Anemia / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001793:Blood Preservation; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D020445:Hospitalists; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010372:Pediatrics; D010465:Perception; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000628:therapy*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000628:therapy*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index