title: AUDIT OF BLOOD TRANSFUSION PRACTICES IN THE PAEDIATRIC MEDICAL WARD OF A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the indications, practices and outcomes of transfusion on children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paediatric wards of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children one month to 18 years that received blood transfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Indications for the transfusion, haemoglobin rise, vital signs, duration of transfusion and adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two hundred and thirty eight transfusions reviewed were given amongst 95 patients, at a ratio of 2.5 transfusions per patient. The indicators of the transfusion were: malignancy (31.7%), sepsis (15.1%), sickle cell anaemia (12.1%), malaria (10.0%), hyperbilirubinaemia (10.0%), HIV/AIDS (8.3%), nephrotic syndrome (7.2%) and malnutrition (5.4%). Whole blood (56.4%) and sedimented cells (36.3%) were the main types of blood transfused. About 96.4% were transfused appropriate volume of blood. The mean Haemoglobin concentration (Hb) increase was 3.1g/dl and 12.8% of the recipients recorded an Hb increase of 5g/dl. The mean duration of transfusion was 4.6 hours and 59.7% of the transfusions exceeded the recommended four hours. Pulse and respiratory rates returned to normal post transfusion in 26.1 and 21.8% of the recipients respectively. In 10% of the transfusions there were minor adverse events; chills/fever (5.1%), itching (3.4%), hypothermia (1.0%) and vomiting (0.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood transfusion in this tertiary institution is not common and mainly due to non-communicable diseases. The expected optimal rise in Hb and normalising of vitals sign are not always the case. The duration of most transfusions was unduly prolonged and transfusion-related adverse events are rare.
authors: University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box 1093, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Ughasoro
authors: A N
authors: AN
authors: Ikefuna
authors: I J
authors: IJ
authors: Emodi
authors: S N
authors: SN
authors: Ibeziako
authors: S O
authors: SO
authors: Nwose
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001771:Blood Banks; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006757:Hospital Units; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008485:Medical Audit; D009549:Nigeria; D010372:Pediatrics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins