Red Blood Cell Transfusion in the Postoperative Care of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: Survey on Stated Practice

No Difference in the Incidence of Complications in Pediatric Patients with Moderate Anemia 30 Days after Pediatric Hip Surgery with and without Blood Transfusion

This study investigated the association between postoperative blood transfusion and the incidence of postoperative complications 30 days after pediatric hip surgery as well as factors significantly associated with 30-day postoperative complications. Patients were divided into two groups: those with postoperative complications and those with no complications. Postoperative hematocrit (Hct) was categorized as <25%, 25–30%, and >30%. Comparison was made between all postoperative complications at the 30-day follow-up that were influenced by anemia in patients who received transfusion and those who did not. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify factors independently associated with postoperative complications. The overall 30-day postoperative complication rate for all patients was 17% (24/138). No significant difference between the transfusion and the non-transfusion patients was found. Preoperative hematocrit (Hct) was significantly lower in the complications group (p = 0.030), and both length of stay and 30-day readmission were significantly higher in patients with complications (p = 0.011 and p < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed female gender (OR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.18–10.36; p = 0.026) and length of hospital stay (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.08–1.41; p = 0.004) to be factors independently associated with 30-day postoperative complications. However, no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications at 30 days following pediatric hip dysplasia surgery was found between patients who received blood transfusion to maintain a Hct level ≥25% and those not receiving transfusion.

Timing of umbilical cord clamping among infants with congenital heart disease

The optimal timing of clamping and cutting the umbilical cord at birth among infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) remains a subject of controversy and debate. The benefits of delayed umbilical cord clamping (DCC) among term infants without CHD are well described, but the evidence base for DCC among infants with CHD has not been characterized adequately. The goals of the present review are to: 1) compare outcomes of DCC versus early cord clamping (ECC) in term (≥37 weeks of gestation) infants; 2) discuss potential risk/benefit profiles in applying DCC among term infants with CHD; 3) use rigorous systematic review methodology to assess the quality and quantity of published reports on cord clamping practices among term infants with CHD; 4) identify needs and opportunities for future research and interdisciplinary collaboration. Our systematic review shows that previous trials have largely excluded infants with CHD. Therefore, the supposition that DCC is advantageous because it is associated with improved neurologic and hematologic outcome is untested in the CHD population. Given that CHD is markedly heterogeneous, to minimize unnecessary and potentially harmful cord clamping practices, identification of subgroups (single-ventricle, cyanotic lesions) most likely to benefit from optimal cord clamping practices is necessary to optimize risk/benefit profiles. The available evidence base suggests that contemporary, pragmatic, randomized controlled trials comparing DCC with ECC among infants with CHD are needed.

Red cell transfusion practices after stage 1 palliation: a survey of practitioners from the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society

INTRODUCTION

Neonates may require increased red cell mass to optimise oxygen content after stage 1 palliation; however, data informing transfusion practices are limited. We hypothesise there is a patient-, provider-, and institution-based heterogeneity in red cell transfusion decision-making after stage 1 palliation.

METHODS

We conducted an online survey of Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society practitioners in 2016. Respondents answered scenario-based questions that defined transfusion indications and identified haematocrit transfusion thresholds. Respondents were divided into restrictive and liberal groups based on a haematocrit score. Fisher's exact test was used to determine the associations between transfusion likelihood and patient, provider, and institutional characteristics. Bonferroni correction was applied to adjust the p-value to 0.004 for multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

There was a 21% response rate (116 responses). Most were male (58.6%), attending physicians (85.3%) with >5 year of intensive care experience (88.7%) and subspeciality training in critical care medicine (47.4%). The majority of institutions were academic (96.6%), with a separate cardiac ICU (86.2%), and performed >10 stage 1 palliation cases annually (68.1%). After Bonferroni correction, there were no significant patient, respondent, or institutional differences between the restrictive and liberal groups. No respondent or institutional characteristics influenced transfusion decision-making after stage 1 palliation.

CONCLUSIONS

Decision-making around red cell transfusion after stage 1 palliation is heterogeneous. We found no clear relationships between patient, respondent, or institutional characteristics and transfusion decision-making among surveyed respondents. Given the lack of existing data informing red cell transfusion after stage 1 palliation, further studies are necessary to inform evidence-based guidelines.

Red blood cell transfusion threshold after pediatric cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategy is implemented to minimize risk following allogeneic blood transfusion in adult cardiac surgery. However, it is still unclear if it can be applied to pediatric cardiac patients. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of postoperative restrictive transfusion thresholds on clinical outcomes based on up-to-date results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies in pediatric cardiac surgery.

METHOD

We searched for RCTs and observational studies in the following databases: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov from their inception to October 26, 2017. We also searched reference lists of published guidelines, reviews, and relevant articles, as well as conference proceedings. No language restrictions were applied and no observational study met the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Four RCTs on cardiac surgery involving 454 patients were included. There were no differences in the pooled fixed effects of intensive care unit (ICU) stay between the liberal and restrictive transfusion thresholds (standardized mean difference SMD, 0.007; 95% confidence interval CI, -0.18-0.19; P = .94). There were also no differences in the length of hospital stay (SMD, -0.062; 95% CI, -0.28-0.15; P = .57), ventilation duration (SMD, -0.015; 95% CI, -0.25-0.22; P = .90), mean arterial lactate level (SMD, 0.071; 95% CI, -0.22-0.36; P = .63), and mortality (risk ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.13-1.94; P = .31). There was no inter-trial heterogeneity for any pooled analysis. Publication bias was tested using Egger, Begg, or the trim-and-fill test, and the results indicated no significant publication bias.

CONCLUSION

Evidence from RCTs in pediatric cardiac surgery, though limited, showed non-inferiority of restrictive thresholds over liberal thresholds in length of ICU stay and other outcomes following red blood cell transfusion. Further high-quality RCTs are necessary to confirm the findings.

Hemoglobin Level at Stage 1 Discharge has No Impact on Inter-stage Growth and Stability in Single Ventricle Infants

Hemoglobin levels (Hgb) of infants with a single ventricle (SV) are traditionally maintained high to maximize oxygen-carrying capacity during stage 1 palliation (S1P), stage 2 palliation (S2P), and between stages (IS). A single-center observational cohort study was performed to determine if red blood cell transfusion during the convalescent phase of the S1P (late S1P transfusion) to achieve higher Hgb is associated with benefits during the IS including improved growth and decreased acute medical events. 137 infants <1 year with SV with SIP undergoing care from January 2008 to June 2015 were retrospectively evaluated. 78 (57%) infants received a late S1P transfusion. Median Hgb at S1P discharge was 15.9 g/dL (IQR 14.7-17.1) and median Hgb S2P at admission was 15.3 g/dL (IQR 14-16.3). Median daily weight gain was 22 g/day during IS (IQR 17-26) and median daily length gain was 0.09 cm (IQR 0.06-0.11). Hgb at SIP discharge was not associated with IS growth or fewer IS acute events. However, late S1P transfusions were associated with illness severity at S1P and more complicated S1P care. Our data suggest that SV infants after S1P, who are steadily recovering, do not benefit from late transfusion to raise their hemoglobin level at discharge.