Platelet transfusion for neonates with thrombocytopaenia: protocol for a systematic review

Association Between Platelet Transfusion and Mortality Rate Among Preterm Neonates in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Platelet transfusion is the main mode of management of thrombocytopenia. However, some studies link frequent and high-threshold platelet transfusions with an incremental increase of mortality rate.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the association between the frequency and the threshold of platelet transfusions, with the mortality rate among preterm neonates.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study design was used. This study was conducted at maternity and children's hospitals in Al-Ahasa, Saudi Arabia. The sample size includes 154 preterm neonates, included in the study by the use of the convenience sampling technique.

RESULTS

There is a significant relationship found between the gestational age and the birth weight of the preterm neonates with the survival rates among both groups. In contrast, there is no significant relationship found between transfusion frequency, transfusion threshold, and the survival rates of the group which received platelet transfusion.

CONCLUSION

The current study found that mortality is mainly associated with lower gestational ages, and not platelet transfusions. More studies are needed to fill the remaining gaps of knowledge, and to optimise platelet transfusion practices among preterm neonates.

Closing the evidence to practice gap in neonatal transfusion medicine

Significant resources are directed towards world-class research projects, but the findings are not necessarily translated into better healthcare outcomes, either at all or in a sustained way. There is a clear need to dedicate further resources to understanding how to promote the uptake of evidence and effectively change neonatal transfusion practice to improve outcomes. Approaching blood transfusion behaviour change more systematically, and working across disciplines and involving families, holds the potential to increase the rate of uptake of emerging evidence in clinical practice. This approach holds the potential to save costs, conserve resources, and improve clinical outcomes. Our paper focuses on the use of quality improvement to bridge the gap between evidence-based knowledge and transfusion practice in neonatal units around the world.