Early death and late morbidity after blood transfusion of injured children: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Early postinjury death after packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusion is attributed to uncontrolled hemorrhage and coagulopathy. The adverse immunomodulatory effects of blood transfusion are implicated in subsequent morbidity. We hypothesized that injured children requiring pRBC transfusion demonstrate patterns in outcome similar to those observed in adults.


METHODS
Our prospectively collected trauma registry was queried for demographics, treatment, and outcome (2006-2009). Outcomes of children who received pRBC transfusion were compared with those of age- and Injury Severity Score (ISS)-matched children who did not receive pRBC transfusion by both univariate and multivariable analysis.


RESULTS
Eight percent (43/512) of injured children received a pRBC transfusion: 20 early and 23 late. The likelihood of pRBC transfusion increased with increasing ISS (ISS <15, 2%; ISS 16-25, 17%; ISS >25, 72%). One-half of injured children who received an early pRBC transfusion died; however, most deaths were because of central nervous system injury. Both ventilator and intensive care unit days were increased in children who received pRBC transfusion as compared with those who did not.


CONCLUSIONS
Early pRBC transfusion is associated with a high mortality in children. Late blood transfusion is associated with worse outcomes, although this relationship may not be causal. This pilot study provides evidence of an association between pRBC transfusion, morbidity, and mortality among injured children that warrants refinement in larger, prospective investigations.
Department of Surgery, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA. fredric.pieracci@dhha.org
Fredric M
FM
Pieracci
Jennifer
J
Witt
Ernest E
EE
Moore
Clay C
CC
Burlew
Jeffery
J
Johnson
Walter L
WL
Biffl
Carlton C
CC
Barnett
Denis D
DD
Bensard
D000293:Adolescent; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058734:Exsanguination / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012042:Registries; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*