Perioperative use of erythrocyte-containing blood components in children during the first months of life

BACKGROUND: Anemia can be diagnosed before surgery, occur during surgical treatment, and develop and worsen in the postoperative period in children with surgical diseases. Anemia is associated with increased morbidity, severe complications, and even death after surgical treatment.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the frequency and indications for transfusion of red blood cell-containing components in the perioperative period in children in the first months of life.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cohort study included 187 children from the G.N. Speransky Children’s Hospital No. 9. The hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell levels were studied as well as the volume of intraoperative blood loss, hemodynamic parameters, the presence of hemorrhagic syndrome, and the use of adrenomimetics in the perioperative period. The stage of the perioperative (pre, intra, or post) period at which the transfusion of erythrocyte-containing components was conducted was recorded. Statistical data analysis was performed using the statistical computing environment R 4.3.0.

RESULTS: The average age of the children at the time of surgery was 41 (16.5–63) days [5.9 (2.4–9) weeks]. Sixty-four (34.2%) children were in their first month of life, 72 (38.5%) in their second month, and 51 (27.3%) in their third month, and 76 (40.6%) children were premature. The surgeries were emergent and urgent in 102 (54.5%) children and planned in 85 (45.5). The hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte levels at which erythrocyte-containing components were transfused were 82 (77–90) g/l, 25% (22%–28%), and 2.8 (2.3–3.0) × 10¹²/l, respectively. The volume of erythrocyte-containing components was 54.0 (32.9–74.4) ml (10–30 ml/kg/child’s body weight). The need for and duration of artificial pulmonary ventilation in the postoperative period were 31 (72.1%) cases and 48.5 (22.5–190) hours, respectively, in contrast to children who did not receive transfusions of red blood cell-containing components—57 (39.6%) cases and 40 (22–96) hours. The indication for transfusion was anemia of varying degrees; however, 74.4% of children received adrenergic agonists simultaneously with transfusion to stabilize hemodynamics: dopamine monotherapy in 23 (74.2%) and combinations of dopamine and norepinephrine in 8 (25.8%) at 10 (8–12) mcg/kg/min and 0.2 (0.15–0.4) mcg/kg/min, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The frequency of use of red blood cell-containing components was 23%. Threshold values for transfusion of erythrocyte-containing components Hb, Ht, and erythrocytes were 82 (77–90) g/l, 25% (22%–28%), and 2.8 (2.3–3.0) × 10¹²/l, respectively.