Critically ill children: To transfuse or not to transfuse packed red blood cells, that is the question
UMass Chan Affiliations
Department of PediatricsDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2012-03-01
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
OBJECTIVES: This article summarizes the current data on packed red blood cell transfusion in the pediatric intensive care unit setting to help providers make evidence-based decisions regarding packed red blood cell transfusions. DATA SOURCES: Review of the literature, including PubMed, citations from relevant articles, and some articles that have been particularly relevant in adult critical care practice regarding packed red blood cell transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: The use of packed red blood cell transfusions is common in the pediatric intensive care unit setting. However, until recently there have been little data to guide providers in this practice. Studies in adult intensive care units have shown less favorable outcomes in patients who received packed red blood cell transfusions. This has led to renewed questioning of the practice of packed red blood cell transfusion in critically ill pediatric patients. New data indicate that using a hemoglobin transfusion threshold of >7 g/dL does not yield improved outcomes. Furthermore, smaller studies have suggested that pediatric intensive care unit patients may be at an increased risk for morbidity and mortality when undergoing transfusion.Source
Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2012 Mar;13(2):204-9. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1097/PCC.0b013e318219291cPermanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/43159PubMed ID
21499178Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1097/PCC.0b013e318219291c