Transfusion de concentré globulaire en réanimation pédiatrique

Transfusion of leukocyte-depleted RBCs is independently associated with increased morbidity after pediatric cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that transfusion of leukocyte-depleted RBC preparations within the first 48 hours of PICU stay was independently associated with prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation, irrespective of surgery type and disease severity.

DESIGN

Retrospective, observational study.

SETTING

Single-center PICU in The Netherlands.

PATIENTS

Children less than 18 years consecutively admitted after pediatric cardiac surgery between February 2007 and February 2010.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Data from 335 patients were used for analysis of whom 86 (25.7%) were transfused during the first 48 hours of PICU stay. Duration of mechanical ventilation (115 ± 19 hours vs. 25 ± 4 hours, p < 0.001) was longer among transfused patients. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (10.5% vs. 1.6%, odds ratio 7.2; 95% confidence interval 1.92-32.47; p < 0.001) was more frequent among transfused patients. New acute kidney injury after 48 hours of PICU admission (23.9% vs. 15.4%, p = 0.18) and mortality were comparable (2.3% vs. 4%, p = 0.16). The number of discrete transfusion events was significantly correlated with the duration of mechanical ventilation (Spearman's rho 0.617, p < 0.001). Transfusion remained independently associated with prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation after adjusting for confounders using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Transfusion of leukocyte-depleted RBCs within the first 48 hours of PICU stay after cardiac surgery is independently associated with prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation.

Red blood cell transfusion in critically ill children is independently associated with increased mortality

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that RBC transfusion in critically ill children is independently associated with increased mortality and morbidity.

DESIGN

Retrospective, descriptive epidemiologic cohort study.

SETTING

Single-center experience of a nine-bed pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) facility.

PATIENTS

Critically ill children without ongoing active blood loss aged 0[Symbol: see text]months to 18[Symbol: see text]years, excluding prematurely born infants or patients after cardiothoracic surgery, and patients with chronic anemia.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Data of 295 consecutive patients was studied. Of these patients, 13.4% had a Hb concentration less than 9.6 g/dl. Sixty-seven (22.7%) of all patients were transfused, 39 only once. Transfused patients had a higher mortality (16.4 vs. 2.6%, p < 0.001). Mortality seemed related to the number of transfusion (p = 0.002) rather than the pre-transfusion Hb concentration (p = 0.10). Transfused patients required prolonged ventilatory support (11.1 +/- 1.8 vs. +/- 0.3 days, p < 0.001), infusion of vaso-active agents (8.2 +/- 1.8 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.6 days, p < 0.001) and PICU stay (13.0 +/- 1.8 vs. 3.2 +/- 0.2 days, p < 0.001). After multivariate analysis adjusting for age, PIM probability of death, mean TISS-28 score during the first 48 h, post-operative admission, diagnosis of sepsis or trauma or malignancy, pre-transfusion Hb concentration, and RBC transfusion remained independently associated with mortality and morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

RBC transfusion in critically ill children is independently associated with increased mortality and prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation, prolonged infusion of vaso-active agents and prolonged PICU stay.

Determinants of red blood cell transfusions in a pediatric critical care unit: A prospective, descriptive epidemiological study*

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence and to characterize the determinants of red blood cell transfusions in critically ill children.

DESIGN

Prospective, descriptive epidemiologic study.

SETTING

A single-center, multidisciplinary, tertiary care level, university-affiliated, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

PATIENTS

Critically ill children.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Of 1,047 consecutive admissions over a 1-yr period, 985 were retained for study. At least one transfusion was given in 139 cases (14%). Incidence rate of transfusion was 304 transfusions/1,000 cases. Possible determinants of red blood cell transfusions were identified and prospectively monitored during PICU stay until a first transfusion event (transfused cases) or up until the time of death or discharge from PICU (nontransfused cases). Four significant determinants of a first red blood cell transfusion event were retained in the multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, p): a hemoglobin level <9.5 g/dL during PICU stay (13.26, 8.04-21.88, p < .001), an admission diagnosis of cardiac disease (8.07, 5.14-14.65, p < .001), an admission Pediatric Risk of Mortality score >10 (4.83, 2.33-10.04, p < .001), and the presence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome during the stay (2.06, 1.18-3.57, p = .01).

CONCLUSION

A significant proportion of critically ill children receive at least one red blood cell transfusion during their PICU stay. Presence of anemia, cardiac disease, severe critical illness, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome are the most significant determinants of red blood cell transfusions in PICU.

Transfusion in pediatrics

In reviewing the literature, the authors noted an important variation in stated and observed transfusion practice patterns among pediatric critical care practitioners, and in published guidelines on RBC transfusion. They also noted a paucity of clinical evidence with respect to RBC transfusion to critically ill children. There has been only one large randomized trial in adults, and the authors do not believe that the results from this trial should be generalized to critically ill children because of the many differences in children and their adaptive responses, and differences in disease processes. More research about anemia and RBC transfusion to critically ill children must be performed. The TRIPICU study is testing the safety of giving more or less RBC transfusion to stable critically ill children. Other studies must be done on the epidemiology and determinants of RBC transfusion in PICUs, on prevention of transfusion, and on alternatives to RBC transfusion (eg, erythropoietin).

Survey on transfusion practices of pediatric intensivists

OBJECTIVE

To describe the red blood cell transfusion practices of pediatric intensivists.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional self-administered survey.

SETTING

Pediatric intensive care units.

PATIENTS

Academic pediatric intensivists.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Scenario-based survey among English- or French-speaking intensivists from Canada, France, Belgium, or Switzerland, working in tertiary-care pediatric intensive care units. Respondents were asked to report their decisions regarding transfusion practice with respect to four scenarios: cases of bronchiolitis, septic shock, trauma, and the postoperative care of a patient with Fallot's tetrad. The response rate was 71% (163 of 230). The overall baseline hemoglobin transfusion threshold that would have prompted intensivists to transfuse a patient ranged from 7 to 13 g/dL (70-130 g/L) within almost all scenarios. There was a significant difference between scenarios of the average baseline hemoglobin transfusion thresholds (p < .0001). A low Pao2, a high blood lactate concentration, a high Pediatric Risk of Mortality score, active gastric bleeding, emergency surgery, and age (2 wks) were important determinants of red blood cell transfusion, whereas none of the respondents' personal characteristics were. The average volume of packed red blood cells transfused in the four scenarios did not differ significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey documented a significant variation in transfusion practice patterns among pediatric critical care practitioners with respect to the threshold hemoglobin concentration for red blood cell transfusion. The volume of packed red blood cells given was not adjusted to the hemoglobin concentration.